Proposed internet poker ban in MA

[Jurollo]

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Good idea, Owl. Just saw my email bounced. Was askthegoverner@wtkk.com the wrong email or did I just hit a busy server?


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to me

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askthegoverner@wtkk.com

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"

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Looks like they changed their domain, my mistake

[MassPoker]

Greetings Again!

Just a quick note to let you all know that I received a phone call from Senator Steve Brewer (D-Barre) this evening. The reason for his phone call was to let me know that many of the legislators that he has spoken to are really hung up on the criminalization portion of the proposed bill. I don't know much about "legislative lingo", but he referred to it as a "sticking point". Apparently, several of the legislators he has spoken to don't feel as though playing poker online is worthy of such harsh penalties.

What this means in a nutshell is that, more than likely, that section of the bill will have to either be eliminated and/or modified before it will stand a chance of passage. He also mentioned that the members of the committee that the bill is currently in seem to be less than enthusiastic about the entire bill as a whole, let alone the ban of online poker and the fact that it will turn ordinary citizens into felons.

Word is that we may see this bill stall dead in its tracks before it even makes it pass the commitee it's in now.

Just wanted to give all of you Massachusetts online poker playing fanatics (like myself) a glimmer of hope.

Sleep well tonight folks!

All In,

Randy C~
Massachusetts Representative
Poker Players Alliance

[downrange]

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Just wanted to give all of you Massachusetts online poker playing fanatics (like myself) a glimmer of hope.

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You definitely did that - thanks so much for the update.

When you say they 'don't like such harsh penalties for online poker' is that to say still penalties but not so harsh? As in "online poker will never be legalized we just won't put you in prison for it"? Do you know what the overall attitude is toward online poker itself - ambivalence, strongly for, strongly against, etc.?

I'm mostly curious from the standpoint of this proposal but also because if the attitude is against (or no longer tolerated) then regardless of what happens to the proposal is there much likelihood that they could say "we need to tie up this loose end and make it clear online poker/gambling in MA was and still is illegal"?

[Uglyowl]

Awesome update Randy, thank you. I am glad that our voices are being heard (FWIW- Mr. Brewer is my Senator and am glad he is taking the time to talk with you). Hopefully we can keep any momentum we have going and look forward to hearing further from you and the PPA.

Ironically there is a push currently of trying to eliminate some "unnneeded" prison sentences in Mass since they cost $45,000/year and the prison population is skyrocketing.

Also count me in for our rally (assuming it's needed).

[TheEngineer]

Nice job Randy! Thanks for the update.

[DeadMoneyDad]

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The reason for his phone call was to let me know that many of the legislators that he has spoken to are really hung up on the criminalization portion of the proposed bill. I don't know much about "legislative lingo", but he referred to it as a "sticking point". Apparently, several of the legislators he has spoken to don't feel as though playing poker online is worthy of such harsh penalties.



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Randy,

This is the time to keep up the pressure. You now have and exploitable crack in this section of the proposed bill.

At least some of the legislators feel the criminalization of on-line poker is too much. You now find those who think on-line should be exempt from new legislation and work them together, if you can. You have the beginings of a coalation.

All of you making calls from within the State this is the time to keep the presure on not take a victory lap.


D$D

[PPABryan]

Good Stuff Randy,

Now as the letter campaign begins in Mass. we can really exploit that crack that seems to have opened. Sounds really promising!!

Bryan Spadaro
Membership Relations, Manager
Poker Players Alliance

[Uglyowl]

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All of you making calls from within the State this is the time to keep the presure on not take a victory lap.


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Well said

[schwza]

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All of you making calls from within the State this is the time to keep the presure on not take a victory lap.


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Well said

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i just called

state senator steven brewer (617) 722-1540
deval patrick 617-725-4005
state senator patricia jehlen (represents somerville, medford, winchester, woburn) 617-722-1578

the person i spoke to at jehlen's office said she was typing up everything i said and sending it along to the senator.

for anyone who has never called, it's very easy. you call, somebody picks up and says "deval patrick's office." you say "i want to express my concern with the casino bill, yada yada yada," and they say, "ok, i'll pass it along." the whole thing takes barely any time at all.

[DeadMoneyDad]

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[ QUOTE ]
All of you making calls from within the State this is the time to keep the presure on not take a victory lap.


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Well said

[/ QUOTE ]

I should have added that it seems through quick action hard work you have done what you need to do to get into the game.

Now since Randy is just one person, and there seems to be a few MA residents fairly worked up on this issue you all may want to consider froming a working group. This way you can divide up some of the duties and the effort gains not only from the mutiple talents but the shared existing knowledge but learned experience.

IMO someone needs to be keeping some sort of record of various actions taken, and resources attempted; both sucussful and not, so that we as a group end up with the beginings of a playbook for future State(s) action.

Or at least this is sometimes how it is done,


D$D