[censored] the horses

[TheEngineer]

A note to Sen. Mitch McConnell of KY (I ghost-wrote it for a buddy of mine who lives there).

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Senator Mitch McConnell
United States Senate
361-A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator McConnell:

I am a recreational poker player who is upset that nothing has been done in the Senate to introduce and advance HR 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act. Quite frankly, I find it ridiculous and shortsighted that Congress refuses to move this industry onshore, complete with regulation and taxation. Poker is, after all, an American institution. What I find truly absurd is the fact that it is still completely legal to place interstate wagers on horse races over the Internet. Surely the “problems” cited by the opponents of poker (a game of skill) exist in horse betting (which is mere chance). It seems quite hypocritical, at least to me, that one is expressly permitted while the other is not.

While I am a proud Kentuckian who values our commonwealth’s equine heritage, I also value my freedoms. Therefore, in the name of equitability, I ask you to either support HR 2046 or support the repeal of the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978. Many in Congress support eliminating this exemption for horse racing, including Rep. Shelly Berkley of Nevada, Rep. Julia Carson of Indiana, and Rep. Chris Shays of Connecticut. If my poker-playing friends at the 600,000 strong Poker Players Alliance and at the many poker web sites and blogs join in to insist that we should be treated at least as well as horses, I imagine we will be heard. At that point, various pro-family groups will likely join us to eliminate the horseracing loophole. After all, they are very consistent on this point, as you surely know.

My personal opinion is that we should choose to support both poker and our commonwealth’s equine industry. After all, we both know Internet gaming can be regulated for age verification and for prevention, compulsive behavior, and money laundering. This was proven conclusively at the June 8, 2007 House Financial Services committee hearings on the subject. I am glad you recognize that fact. After all, if you did not you would not have supported the horseracing exemption in last year’s Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).

Many Americans wish to have the right to play poker online. Many more do not feel it is the government’s place to prohibit this. Some polls have shown over 75% opposition to UIGEA. I do feel there will be a continued backlash in 2008 to this, especially as our party continues to fracture along ideological lines.

I ask you to carefully consider the facts and to support HR 2046 and our equine industry. Let’s have a regulated, taxed, and legal Internet gaming industry. It’s not about supporting gaming; rather, it is about supporting the right of adults to make their own decisions.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

[TheEngineer]

Perhaps we should at least look like we're going to target the equine industry for repeal of the IHRA. At least we can maybe use the anti-gambling legislators for something.

Quote from McConnell:

[ QUOTE ]
Although I do not support widespread gambling, I will examine very closely any gambling legislation to ensure that it does not harm Kentucky by hurting our horse industry. Because I represent the entire state of Kentucky, I do what I can to support its horse farms, horse workers, and the economic good of our state. It has been estimated that the equine industry supports 50,000 jobs in Kentucky and generates $3.5 billion for our state's economy each year.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, it seems he cares. Perhaps we should get his attention. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[TheEngineer]

The Honorable Shelley Berkley
United States House of Representatives
405 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-4708

Dear Representative Berkley:

I am a recreational poker player who is as upset as you about last year’s Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Quite frankly, I find it ridiculous and shortsighted that Congress refuses to move this industry onshore, complete with regulation and taxation. Poker is, after all, an American institution. What I find truly absurd is the fact that it is still completely legal to place interstate wagers on horse races over the Internet. Surely the “problems” cited by the opponents of poker either exist in horse betting as well or do not exist in either sport. It seems quite hypocritical, at least to me, that one is expressly permitted while the other is not. The horseracing proponents did not even feel the horses required a study – the same one they refuse to give us.

It also seems hypocritical that games familiar to Nevadans are “sinful”, while gambling on horses is somehow considered “all-American”. I imagine this likely offends you and other Nevadans. I know it offends me.

So, in the name of equitability will you consider introducing legislation to repeal the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978? After all, it seems the horses should be subject to the same laws the rest of us are. We should be on equal footing. I also think it would be very effective to put the opponents of Internet poker in the spotlight of having to vote for Internet horseracing, just as it was last year when you introduced this as an amendment to UIGEA.

You can be assured the millions of Internet gaming enthusiasts will be with you and will be grateful. After all, we think we should be treated at least as well as horses.

Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,

TheEngineer

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The Honorable Julia Carson
U.S. House of Representatives
2455 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Representative Carson:

I am a recreational poker player who is as upset as you about last year’s Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Quite frankly, I find it ridiculous and shortsighted that Congress refuses to move this industry onshore, complete with regulation and taxation. Poker is, after all, an American institution. What I find truly absurd is the fact that it is still completely legal to place interstate wagers on horse races over the Internet. Surely the “problems” cited by the opponents of poker either exist in horse betting as well or do not exist in either sport. It seems quite hypocritical, at least to me, that one is expressly permitted while the other is not. The horseracing proponents did not even feel the horses a study – the same one they refuse to give us.

In the name of equitability will you consider introducing legislation to repeal the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978? After all, it seems the horses should be subject to the same laws the rest of us are. We should be on equal footing, as you said in the June 8 House Financial Services Committee hearing on the subject of Internet gaming. I also think it would be very effective to put the opponents of Internet poker in the spotlight of having to vote for Internet horseracing.

You can be assured the millions of Internet gaming enthusiasts will be with you and will be grateful. After all, we think we should be treated at least as well as horses.

Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,

TheEngineer