Today's message is short and sweet. We have to be a force to be reckoned with. Every member of Congress needs to know that we American citizens do not like it when our freedoms are taken away from us, especially when it is done in the sneaky manner in which the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed.
As you may know, the office of US Congressman Barney Frank, D-Mass, who is chairman of the House financial services committee, has confirmed that he is currently working on legislation to repeal the UIGEA.
Last year, Representative Frank addressed Congress and answered a charge that online gambling does not add to the GDP or make America more competitive. (A region's GDP, or gross domestic product, is one of the ways for measuring the size of its economy.)
Representative Frank responded: "Has it become the role of this Congress to prohibit any activity that an adult wants to engage in voluntarily if it doesn't add to the GDP or make us more competitive? What kind of social, cultural, authoritarianism are we advocating here? Now, I agree there is a practice that causes a lot of problems, damages families, people lose their jobs, they get in debt, they do it to excess. It's called drinking! Are we going to go back to Prohibition? It didn't work back then and it won't work for gambling. … The fundamental point is this, if an adult in this country, with their own money, wants to engage in an activity that harms no one, how dare we prohibit it?"
I think we all agree with Representative Frank's sentiment. How dare the government prohibit our fun while sanctioning the lottery, horseracing, fantasy sports leagues? Let's help the good senator get support from other senators.
The Poker Player's Alliance has graciously provided us with a link whereby you can join the PPA and you can also write your senator. Click here.
In the recent past, we interviewed Congresswoman Shelley Berkley on our radio show. She told us to contact our congressmen! Let's take this sage advice and get excited. It only takes a few minutes of typing. Click here.
We do have allies in congress. Representative John Conyers, D-Mich, chairman of the House judiciary committee, is a long-time supporter and sympathetic to the industry. Reps. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Jon Porter, R-Nev., intend to cosponsor legislation for a study and they have already approached Rep. Barney Frank for support.
American Gaming Association president Frank Fahrenkopf is also in favor of a study to determine the viability of regulating online gaming. With all due respect to those who want a study, the new voice of poker and PPA spokesman Senator Alfonse put it best when he said "Study, schmudy. It will take years and then we will study the study. We need action now."
Senator Alfonse D'Amato suggests that we let our voices be heard. Let's make some noise! Get a phone number, write a letter. Let your representatives know how displeased you are! The link we have provided also gives phone numbers for your representatives. Be courteous, but leave a message that you do not appreciate your freedoms being taken away. Don't ramble. Make your point. Repeal the UIGEA or give us a poker carve-out. Click here.
POSTED ON: Mar 29, 2007
We need common sense action not only for on-line poker, but for B & M poker rooms as well in those states that have lotteries and horse racing (and even brand new casinos like in my state, PA). The money we sit down at the table with has already been taxed. It's our money, we worked hard for it, and so we should be able to decide what to do with it!
POSTED ON: Mar 21, 2007
We HAVE to counter Sen. Kyle (R) Arizona with a strong and FAST e-mail campaign to our Senators and Congress people. Gambling911.com is reporting “The staunch advisory of online poker sent the President a letter thanking him for his protection of family values and urging him to act immediately in ensuring that the forthcoming regulations for the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) are as stringent as possible. READ STORY HERE: http://www.gambling911.com/Online-Poker-George-Bush-031807.html We MUST answer and answer FAST! Use the link from PPA: http://capwiz.com/pokerplayersalliance/dbq/officials/ AND SEND THEM TODAY!!!!!
POSTED ON: Mar 21, 2007
I agree with you Chris, it just cuts into your credibility when you have glaring errors in what you want to be considered a credible source of information.
POSTED ON: Mar 21, 2007
Is Allyn wrong in a sense that she didn't do proofread her article before releasing it? Maybe so. Is that so much important for you to remind us that Mr. Barney Frank D'Amato was once a Senate but not today? Come on, guys. If you have that much time to criticize her for not being accurate and clumsy as a writer, you should write more of that angery stuff to your local representatives. Yea sure, Allyn refered Mr. D'Amato as "Frank". So what? You don't think we know who she is talking about? And even though Mr. D'Amato is currently NOT a Senate, it is an indisputable fact that he has more power and experience to change the UIGEA. Let's focus on the real issue here, gentlemen. We need more people to join the PPA and need more communication with our powerful people, Uncle Sam! Therefore, please talk to your friends, family, and whoever you think is interested in poker.
POSTED ON: Mar 21, 2007
I enjoyed reading the article and agree with the sentiment expressed in the article however this article clearly wasn't proofread. Barney Frank is twice refered to as a Senator and once correctly as a US Representative. Secondly I have never heard of a US Senator being refered to by their only their first name with the title Senator in it. Al D'Amato is a former Senator from NY. Hopefully Senators Pat and Bernie will take note :o) (I am from Vermont)
POSTED ON: Mar 21, 2007
While I agree with the sentiment, last I checked, Ted Kennedy and John Kerry were the Senators in Mass. ... Barney Frank is a member of the House, not the Senate, unless the Bay State now gets three senators.
POSTED ON: Mar 21, 2007
Great start, now we need a full fledged campaign led by the PPA with the huge members list with a goal of a 500K Monday virtural protest..............
POSTED ON: Mar 21, 2007
i think its a step in the right direction no matter how you dice it great job and as a member of the ppa i encourage all other poker players to join its a great way to have our opiopns voiced thank you all for your time Ryan Mattos
POSTED ON: Mar 21, 2007
Repeal the UIGEA, NOT a poker carve out. A poker carve out still tramples the rights of citizens. Lets not be the same as those who allow our government to trample rights until they trample ours to complaim. A complete repeal is the ONLY way, anything less is a sellout.