Reply from Congressman on internet gambling bill

[Newt_Buggs]

Thank you for contacting me to voice your opposition to H.R. 4777, the
Internet Gambling Prohibition Act. I appreciate hearing from you.



Online gambling, and gaming in general, has become a hot topic over the
last several years, especially in our community. I recognize the
potential for harm that online gambling poses. Given the addicting nature
of gambling, the ability to gamble online using one's credit card has
potential to cause great financial harm. On the other hand, I also
recognize that a certain amount of individual liberty is at stake here, and
that many of my constituents enjoy internet gambling responsibly.



As you may know, H.R. 4777 was introduced by Representative Goodlatte
on February 16, 2006 and was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
While I am not a member of the Judiciary Committee, I am hopeful that
the committee will complete its review of the legislation shortly so
that I might review the final version and discuss its impact with my
colleagues. Your views will be extremely useful to me as I track the bill's
progress through the legislative process.



Again, thank you for contacting me. As your representative, I both
need and value your thoughts and ideas. Please sign up for my
E-Newsletter by sending an e-mail message to sd-enews@mail.house.gov if you would
like to receive monthly updates about what is happening in Congress.

With warm regards,

Susan A. Davis
Member of Congress

[CountingMyOuts]

Well, I'd guess that you sending a letter to your Rep would be a waste of time, unfortunately.

[The4Aces]

No one from kansas has even responded to me.

[ImBen]

[ QUOTE ]
Crap. I only got my John Linder letter. I have yet to receive one from Saxby.

And FWIW, I'm voting all libertarian in the next election. That party might gain some steam someday if they would get rid of the "legalize drugs" nutball candidates and get some more "small govt, personal freedom, personal accountablity" candidates.

[/ QUOTE ]

You think these are contradictory?

[CORed]

How do you play poker without placing bets and wagers? Poler with play money isn't really poker.

[ginko]

I guess what Im really asking is, does this bill make it a FELONY to play internet poker(like WA state does). Is the bill just for the credit cards? Or will this bill make it illegal to play online poker? Thats my confusion.

[MakesCents]

[ QUOTE ]
I got a similar letter from one of my senators:

[ QUOTE ]
Dear XXX:

Thank you for taking the time to write to me about Internet gambling. I
appreciate you taking the time to write and share your thoughts on this
issue.

Off-shore internet casinos continue to multiply and illegal internet
gambling persists even though no state has yet authorized a virtual
casino. The very ambiguous nature of the internet-lacking actual
boundaries- makes regulation of internet activities nearly impossible on
both the state and federal levels. Currently, the appropriate regulatory
and law enforcement oversight of internet gambling does not exist. The
only available means of effective prohibition is through the internet
service provider (ISP), or the payment system provider. Internet gambling
also increases the potential for criminal activities, including money
laundering, and abuse by site operators.

Representative James Leach (R-IA) introduced the Unlawful Internet
Gambling Enforcement Act of 2005, H.R. 4411, on November 18, 2005. This
bill would prevent the use of certain payment instruments, credit cards,
and fund transfers for unlawful Internet gambling. H.R. 4411 has been
referred to the House Committee on Financial Services where it awaits
further action. Should this legislation reach the Senate floor for a
vote, I will keep your comments in mind.

Thank you for writing to share your concerns. I look forward to hearing
from you again. If you would like more information on issues important to
Colorado and the nation, please log on to my website at
http://allard.senate.gov.


Sincerely,
A
Wayne Allard
United States Senator

[/ QUOTE ]

And from the one I voted for..

[ QUOTE ]
Dear XXX:

Thank you for contacting me regarding internet gambling. I appreciate hearing from you.

Federal and state laws prohibit most forms of internet gambling, yet enforcement has proven difficult.
Often, the host sites for these businesses may be offshore, and outside of U.S jurisdiction. Due to this
difficulty, enforcement mechanisms have previously tried denying such providers the services of American financial services.

In September 2005, legislation was introduced to prevent the use of certain payment methods for unlawful internet gambling. However, this legislation was introduced as an amendment to H.R 2862, an appropriations bill, and was ruled by the chair as a violation of the rules requiring relevancy of amendments to appropriations bills.

Again, thank you for your input. I will bear your thoughts in mind as Congress addresses these important issues.



Sincerely,

Ken Salazar
United States Senator


[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]
I got the same form letter back from Allard. Havent recieved anything from Salazar yet. Its hard to disagree with the points he lays out against internet gambling but at the same time I see no mention of the positives that come from such things and how regulating it and taxing it in the US helps the economy. At least hes not so stupid as to tell me that I can play for fun, I think Id be placing a call to that person if he/she was representing me.

[treo650]

Not good, got reply from one of my California senators
re: HR4777. I can't really address the
stupidities specific to HR4777 with her since
it's equivalent is not up in the Senate but her general
position is anti-internet-gambling:


--- BEGIN MESSAGE ---

Thank you for contacting me regarding Internet gambling. I
appreciate your thoughts and views on this topic and welcome the
opportunity to respond.

There is no doubt that the Internet and related technologies have
had a remarkable effect on the U.S. economy in recent years. Commerce
on the Internet has enhanced American industry=s ability to distribute
goods economically and efficiently. The continuing development of this
industry in California has provided hundreds of thousands of new, well-
paying jobs, and I am committed to strengthening online commerce and
preserving and expanding this vital job base.

While I understand your thoughts on internet gambling, I have
supported legislation aimed at curbing Internet gambling during my
tenure in the Senate. There advent of the Internet has clearly been
beneficial to American society, however, I believe the same cannot be
said for Internet-based gambling activity. Internet gambling is too easily
accessible to minors, too subject to fraud and criminal misuse, and too
easily evades state gambling laws. The "Internet Gambling Prohibition
Act" (H.R. 4777) is currently under consideration by the Judiciary
Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, and at this time, there
is no companion legislation in the Senate. While we do not necessarily
agree on this particular topic, please know that I will certainly keep your
thoughts in mind should this particular bill be considered by the Senate
in the 109th Congress.

Again, thank you for your letter. I hope that you will continue to
write on matters of importance to you. Should you have further
questions or comments on this or any other issue, please do not hesitate
to contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3841.





Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator

http://feinstein.senate.gov

Further information about my position on issues of concern to California and
the Nation are available at my website
http://feinstein.senate.gov. You can also receive electronic e-mail updates by
subscribing to my e-mail list at
http://feinstein.senate.gov/issue.html.

[ragecg]

Thats sucks. This whole thing sucks...

I just sent it to my folks here in MN... where it is already illegal...

Hopefully something good will happen, or our sub-50-table cardroom will EXPLODE with so much new business, they will have no choice but to expland.

...hopefully...

[MNpoker]

[ QUOTE ]
Thats sucks. This whole thing sucks...

I just sent it to my folks here in MN... where it is already illegal...

Hopefully something good will happen, or our sub-50-table cardroom will EXPLODE with so much new business, they will have no choice but to expland.

...hopefully...

[/ QUOTE ]

Then you'll be getting one of these non-answers. Would you expect any less from Coleman?

Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding Internet gambling.



I appreciate the arguments you make in opposition to legislation that would limit Internet gambling and will keep them in mind should such legislation come before the Senate for a vote. Currently no Senate legislation has been introduced; however as you note two bills have been introduced in the House: H.R. 4411, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2005 and H.R. 4777 Internet Gambling Prohibition Act. H.R. 4411 would principally seek to end payments made to Internet gambling site operators through credit card companies and other financial services companies while H.R. 4777 principally would update the Wire Act to take into account the use of the Internet medium for gambling purposes and authorize additional law enforcement funds.



Thank you once again for contacting me. If I can be of further assistance to you in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me again.





Sincerely,
Norm Coleman
United States Senate


I haven't heard from the others yet.