Representatives and Senators For and Against Online Poker, 11/19/07

TheEngineer · #1 11-19-2007, 12:44 PM

Article at http://pokerplayersalliance.org/news...le.php?DID=237 .

TheEngineer · #2 11-19-2007, 12:45 PM

Also, to keep things centralized, perhaps we should post all letters from Congress to this thread, plus discussion of politicians cosponsoring legislation.

snappo · #3 11-19-2007, 01:11 PM

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Also, to keep things centralized, perhaps we should post all letters from Congress to this thread, plus discussion of politicians cosponsoring legislation.

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Really great effort engineer, with the map and everything. Thank you very much for all you've done and are doing. I see you already list Weiner in the 'A' category and listed as a cosponsor. Here is his letter response FWIW:

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Dear [snappo],
Thank you for contacting me to voice your support for the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act. Please pardon the tardiness of this response. I agree with you and am a cosponsor of this legislation.
As you may know, this bill would establish an internet licensing program which would allow Americans to bet online through vendors that are regulated and licensed. I believe this legislation strikes the necessary balance between industry oversight and personal freedoms. As a member of the Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee with jurisdiction over this matter, please be assured I will keep your thoughts in mind.
Again, thank you for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to be in touch in the future on this or any other issue of concern.

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Engineer, he says "as a member of the Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection subcommittee with jurisdiction over this matter...". Would you know exactly what degree of influence he has as a member of that subcommittee, or is that just standard political fluff talk?

TheEngineer · #4 11-19-2007, 02:05 PM

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Really great effort engineer, with the map and everything. Thank you very much for all you've done and are doing.

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Thanks. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

I am passionate about our freedoms, as you know.

Thank you for writing to your rep. Just in that one action, you did more than 99% of Americans do for their freedoms. If everyone who cares about poker does something tangible, we'll win.

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Engineer, he says "as a member of the Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection subcommittee with jurisdiction over this matter...". Would you know exactly what degree of influence he has as a member of that subcommittee, or is that just standard political fluff talk?

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According to the subcommittee's website, they do the following:

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Jurisdiction: Interstate and foreign commerce, including all trade matters within the jurisdiction of the full committee; Regulation of commercial practices (the FTC), including sports-related matters; Consumer affairs and consumer protection, including privacy matters generally; consumer product safety (the CPSC); product liability; and motor vehicle safety; Regulation of travel, tourism, and time.

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Internet poker clearly falls within this subcommittee in some regards. IGREA and Wexler's bill have both been referred to this subcommittee.

BluffTHIS! · #5 11-19-2007, 05:52 PM

Engineer,

Maybe this would be too much work to add to your excellent summary, but since the only way we get a bill passed is going to be via attachment to must pass legislation, how about a separate short scorecard for the leadership and major committee chairs of each house? Some combination of them is going to have to sign off on attachment, and once they do, the sheep would probably follow.

TheEngineer · #6 11-19-2007, 08:46 PM

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Engineer,

Maybe this would be too much work to add to your excellent summary, but since the only way we get a bill passed is going to be via attachment to must pass legislation, how about a separate short scorecard for the leadership and major committee chairs of each house? Some combination of them is going to have to sign off on attachment, and once they do, the sheep would probably follow.

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Thanks for the compliment. I can work up a House committee chair summary (not enough data on the Senate):

TheEngineer · #7 11-19-2007, 09:00 PM

Here are the committees that have poker legislation pending (maximize window to view columns properly...I'm looking forward to the forum software upgrade):

Committee.................Poker bills referred................Chairman..................... ............... Ranking Min. Mem.........
Energy and Comm.............IGREA and Wexler ......... Dingell, John [D-MI] ..... A- ...... Barton, Joe [R-TX] ........... Q-
Fin. Serv.................IGREA, Wexler, and Study ... Frank, Barney [D-MA] ....... A+ ..... Bachus, Spencer [R-AL] .... F-
Judiciary ........................Wexler and Study .......... Conyers, John [D-MI] ..... A+ ..... Smith, Lamar [R-TX] ......... F
Ways and Means ................. Study bill ................ Rangel, Charles [D-NY] ... A- ...... McCrery, James [R-LA] ... F-star

BluffTHIS! · #8 11-19-2007, 09:10 PM

Engineer,

Thanks for those additions. All that is lacking is the leadership of entire house for the democratic party only most likely, as in speaker, majority leader, majority whip, etc. Those persons, in addition to the chair and members of any relevant committees, or potential conference committee, will also have a lot of say in whether something we favor gets attached.