Response from Senator Wyden

[BobJoeJim]

I just got a letter (old school snail mail style) in response to my email to Oregon Senator Ron Wyden. Looks like a form letter, but at least that means he has a form letter about this topic:
[ QUOTE ]
Dear friend:

Thank you for contacting me to share your concerns regarding Internet gambling. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

As you may know, Congressman Jim Leach of Iowa introduced the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act, H.R. 4411, which would modify existing anti-gambling laws to prohibit gambling by any technological means of communication, including online poker, casinos, and sports books. This bill would also bar banks and credit card companies from processing payments for online bets and would prohibit gambling businesses from accepting credit cards and electronic transfers for online betting. This legistlation has passed the House of Representatives and now awaits further consideration in the Senate.

I have concerns that this legislation is mere window dressing. Most online gambling operations are overseas, outside the jurisdiction of U.S. law enforcement. Additionally, barring credit card operations and banks from facilitating online gambling is likely a futile exercise, as intermediary, overseas banks already are willing to act as middle men for money transfers. Should this bill or similar legislation come before me, I will keep your views in mind.

Again, thank you for keeping me apprised of your views. If I can be of any further assistance to you on this or other issues, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Ron Wyden
United States Senator

[/ QUOTE ]

Doesn't necessarily sound like he's in favor of online gambling, but he does sound like he might be on our side of this particular bill, though he was slightly more noncommittal than I would have liked.

[Nate tha\\\' Great]

[ QUOTE ]
I just got a letter (old school snail mail style) in response to my email to Oregon Senator Ron Wyden. Looks like a form letter, but at least that means he has a form letter about this topic:
[ QUOTE ]
Dear friend:

Thank you for contacting me to share your concerns regarding Internet gambling. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

As you may know, Congressman Jim Leach of Iowa introduced the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act, H.R. 4411, which would modify existing anti-gambling laws to prohibit gambling by any technological means of communication, including online poker, casinos, and sports books. This bill would also bar banks and credit card companies from processing payments for online bets and would prohibit gambling businesses from accepting credit cards and electronic transfers for online betting. This legistlation has passed the House of Representatives and now awaits further consideration in the Senate.

I have concerns that this legislation is mere window dressing. Most online gambling operations are overseas, outside the jurisdiction of U.S. law enforcement. Additionally, barring credit card operations and banks from facilitating online gambling is likely a futile exercise, as intermediary, overseas banks already are willing to act as middle men for money transfers. Should this bill or similar legislation come before me, I will keep your views in mind.

Again, thank you for keeping me apprised of your views. If I can be of any further assistance to you on this or other issues, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Ron Wyden
United States Senator

[/ QUOTE ]

Doesn't necessarily sound like he's in favor of online gambling, but he does sound like he might be on our side of this particular bill, though he was slightly more noncommittal than I would have liked.

[/ QUOTE ]

Noncommital?

"I have concerns that this legislation is mere window dressing. Most online gambling operations are overseas, outside the jurisdiction of U.S. law enforcement. Additionally, barring credit card operations and banks from facilitating online gambling is likely a futile exercise, as intermediary, overseas banks already are willing to act as middle men for money transfers."

This is pretty strong language in Senatorspeak.

[BluffTHIS!]

[ QUOTE ]

Noncommital?

"I have concerns that this legislation is mere window dressing. Most online gambling operations are overseas, outside the jurisdiction of U.S. law enforcement. Additionally, barring credit card operations and banks from facilitating online gambling is likely a futile exercise, as intermediary, overseas banks already are willing to act as middle men for money transfers."

This is pretty strong language in Senatorspeak.

[/ QUOTE ]


Nate,

That is certainly true. If a majority of senators were that "non-committal" we wouldn't have much fear of this legislation passing ever.

[SomethingClever]

I got the exact same letter.

[coxquinn]

I'm also from Oregon and I'm gonna guess Ron Wyden is not the biggest fan evar of online gambling, but he is a democrat so I could be way off the mark here.

[OpenWheel]

Strong language?! I can't even tell what side he's on!

To me this is pure weasely mouthed senator-speak from some loser trying to play both sides of the fence. Although it sounds as if he wants to ban online gambling. Or at least, as a typical Senator, "regulate it" in order to get more money into the federal treasury disguised as compassion for children and the downtrodden masses.

To me the answer reads "I'm against this bill because it's NOT STRONG ENOUGH." Which means he is looking for ways to BAN online gambling and if they write a TOUGHER bill he's all for it.

But to the gambling proponents he can say "No, I'm against this bill."

He just won't come clean on what his goals are. Typical strategy. Is he up for election soon?

I don't understand people who vote for folks like this. Until things improve in Washington and they return at least a tiny amount of power that belongs to the states, I'm not voting for a single incumbent. Throw the bums out and elect people who will tell you the truth about what their plans are.

[spatne]

[ QUOTE ]

Strong language?! I can't even tell what side he's on!

[/ QUOTE ]

Then you're not reading closely enough.

He probably doesn't give a [censored] about i-gaming one way or the other, but he recognizes that this bill is a ridiculous waste of time and resources.

Don't forget, Wyden was a champ for net neutrality. I'm guessing that he'd hate the idea of ISP restrictions, should it ever come to that. Also, unlike Ted "I'm still waiting for my Internet from last Monday" Stevens, he's got a good idea of how the internet works in both function and spirit.

[Hellmouth]

Much better then the one I got back (from Maryland) which basically said

"I am a strong advocate of global commerce and will take your views into consideration."

I was a little pissed at the response.

Greg

[kevstreet]

[ QUOTE ]
ummmm...that letter is awesome


[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know how much merit this letter holds, but it is about the best thing I've read in the last 3 months.