URGENT Update From NROG (Posted Friday at 3pm)

[Zele]

Very nice letter, Paxo.

[Paxosmotic]

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Very nice letter, Paxo.

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Thank ya. A form letter is a nice gesture, but I think that writing a personal letter on how it affects you will have more luck.

[BJK]

I called Senator Kent Conrad to find his office had closed early. I left a voice mail, but plan to call again tomorrow. I think they're open from 1:00 to 3:00 or something crazy.

I didn't call Senator Byron Dorgan. They know my voice, as I call often.

A note to the people who run saveonlinegambling.com :

North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad does not have an email address listed. The reason is because his website has a webform to contact by email. This little detour almost deterred me from sending my email to him. I think including the URL to the webform would help. It is:

http://conrad.senate.gov/webform.html

This is the form letter I sent:

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I heard news today that Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee is attempting to pass legislation to ban online gambling to a DoD bill that will likely hit the Senate floor early next week. This is appalling to me both as someone who dispises restrictions of personal freedoms as well as someone who supports our military.

The online gaming industry is one that needs regulations not restrictions. As a moderate and independent North Dakota resident, I've been very pleased in the past that our elected Democratic Senators have always elected to side with common sense instead of emotional outbursts. I've been unable to find any documentation stating what position you take in the issue of online gambling, but I can only hope that your level headed leadership continues with this bill in which I am taking a great interest.

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[monkeyman]

[ QUOTE ]


A note to the people who run saveonlinegambling.com :

North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad does not have an email address listed. The reason is because his website has a webform to contact by email. This little detour almost deterred me from sending my email to him. I think including the URL to the webform would help. It is:

http://conrad.senate.gov/webform.html



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[email protected] should be the email address. came from the source code.

[nrog]

Thanks from NROG. We'll correct this now.

[GGrey]

WAY too long, but I think the content's good.

Senator,

The purpose of this message is to inform you that as a voting member of your state, I am against Senator Frist's attempt to attach provisions against online gambling to the Department of Defense Authorization bill that is to be reviewed next week.

Altruistically, the goal of this provision may be to cut down on gambling degeneracy, or to prevent the youth of America from squandering what little funds they may have acquired, but the passing of the bill will not fulfill it. The ban of online gambling will only force pathological addicts to find other means of throwing their money away. There are still home games, casinos, even liquor store lottery tickets and scratchcards. Or what about alcohol, cigarettes, and adult entertainment? Where are the bans and restrictions on these means of degeneracy? I am not comparing apples to oranges, and by no means should a government be responsible for policing the individual's morality when he can't hurt anyone but himself.

The ready availability of online gambling does not equate to a mass proliferation of degenerates. Money management is the responsibility of each citizen, NOT the government. Failure by overspending is at the fault of the user. If Congress feels the need to have an active role in citizens' accounting, then why isn't the government doing our taxes? Just because the means of gambling addiction is available does not mean every John Smith will succumb to it. If that were the case, the ownership of any sort of weaponry would come with an immediate arrest, and every alcohol bottle would come with an AA membership card.

Now, I'd imagine the true, compelling argument of the bill is money. Money is going offshore. The state is not a recipient of the booming online gambling industry's profits. Reasonable at this juncture, yes, however take into account the mass array of aforementioned, currently taxable, even regulated vices readily available. Are we ready to concede that the foundation of the righteous crusade against online gambling is based on the dollar bill? That a blind eye, or even the acceptance of a myriad of vices can indeed be purchased?

I believe such are the implications behind the attachment to the DoD bill. I hope you take it into consideration.

Much appreciation,
-

[cnfuzzd]

i would speculate that the reason the 2p2 officialdom hasnt said anything is because of possible legal ramifications. They are kinda sticklers for that, and they are based in nevada.


pjn

[CardSharpCook]

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Dear Mr. Taylor:



Thank you for contacting me regarding Internet gambling. I appreciate the opportunity to respond to your views on this issue.



As you may know, on July 11, 2006, the House of Representatives passed H.R.4411, the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act. This bill would prohibit financial institutions from processing payments for online wagers. H.R.4411 would also amend the 1961 Wire Act, which outlawed gambling over telephone lines, to specifically include the Internet.



The Senate will now begin considering H.R.4411. Please know that I will keep your views in mind when this bill comes to the Senate floor.



Again, thank you for writing to me. Do not hesitate to contact me again about this or any other issue of concern to you.

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator


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[Zele]

Finally, a straight answer!

[Paxosmotic]

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[ QUOTE ]
Dear Mr. Taylor:



Thank you for contacting me regarding Internet gambling. I appreciate the opportunity to respond to your views on this issue.



As you may know, on July 11, 2006, the House of Representatives passed H.R.4411, the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act. This bill would prohibit financial institutions from processing payments for online wagers. H.R.4411 would also amend the 1961 Wire Act, which outlawed gambling over telephone lines, to specifically include the Internet.



The Senate will now begin considering H.R.4411. Please know that I will keep your views in mind when this bill comes to the Senate floor.



Again, thank you for writing to me. Do not hesitate to contact me again about this or any other issue of concern to you.

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator


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While I absolutely adore Barbara Boxer, and would be courting her religiously if I were 40 years older, that is hardly an answer. I want to see a senator give an opinion. I know that we're not going to get a "don't worry, this won't pass while I'm in the senate" reply, but I at least want to see a "I agree with your viewpoint and will seek to act strongly in opposition of this amendment" response. Senator Boxer's reply is basically "I'll keep you in mind."