Legal Online Gambling Bill Co-Sponsors Increase, Again

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) sponsored two bills this year with the intention of delaying the implementation of rules of enforcement (HR2266) of the UIGEA, and the other is HR2267 which seeks to make legal Online gambling.

Both bills gained 2 additional supporters, Rep Paul W. Hodes, [NH-2] & Rep Edolphus Towns,[NY-10] , bringing HR2266 co-sponsors to 25 and HR2267 to 42.

Both bills are planned to be discussed in committee this year and Rep. Frank believes that he has the support to turn them into law this year.

It is very important that Americans continue to call, write, email, or see their Representative in person to discuss this and encourage them to get on board and allow us at least some of our freedoms that were taken to be given back.

What we do in our homes is of no concern to the government. They have no right to restrict an activity that is legal in a brick and mortar building and decide that it is illegal to do in our home.

Please contact your congressperson and demand they give us this freedom back.

IMEGA v United States Oral Arguements Today On UIGEA

In the long long awaited hearing between IMEGA (Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association), and the Department of Justice, today is the day set for oral arguments to commence in the US 3rd Circuit Court Of Appeals in Philadelphia, PA. at 10 am.

IMEGA brought a suit against the DOJ that sought to void the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) which was jammed through the Senate in the last day of Congress in 2006, attached to an unrelated must pass Safe Port Security Act bill. Then Senator, Bill Frist added the bill in the final hour of session and gave no option for discussion, dissension, and many that voted were not aware of its inclusion.

IMEGA has more than a fair chance at succeeding in this case as the UIGEA as written is vague, does not define illegal gambling, excludes only companies that are based outside of the US, allows domestic companies that have been offering these services to continue, exempts, Horse racing, State Lotteries, and Fantasy Sports, but does not allow foreign publicly traded companies to do the same, which violate trade agreements in the WTO (World Trade Organization) in which over 180 other countries have signed fair trade agreements.

It also deputizes Banks and Credit Card companies to do the enforcement by blocking transactions to any offshore company.

When hearings were held, testimony by government officials could not define 'illegal online gambling', citing that there is no way to determine what is or is not illegal due to varying laws in each State, causing a delay of many months for rules to be put in place.

As a result of having banks be responsible, some State lotteries had purchasing transactions blocked because of the vagueness of the law.

IMEGA is represented by two very capable, extremely respected attorneys, Eric M. Bernstein and Stephen A. Saltzburg.

The defendants - the US Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Reserve - will be represented by Nicholas J. Bagley and Jacqueline E. Coleman of the US DOJ’s civil division in Washington, DC.

The three-judge panel that will decide the case are Judge Dolores Korman Sloviter, a Carter appointee; Judge Thomas L. Ambro, a Clinton appointee; and Judge Kent A. Jordan, a George W. Bush appointee.

IMEGA Chairman Joe Brennan Jr said, “This law will finally have to stand on it’s own two feet in court, free from politics and all other outside influences, we feel very confident that when the judges take a look at the law, they will see just how defective it is, and they will overturn it.”

What's Next For Republicans? More Sex Scandals?

There is so much that has been going on inside the Republican Party since its implosion which started in 2000 with the appointment of King George. It seems that every day that goes by, we hear of more in that party who do not live up to its ideals. A short list on the group that insists they are the party of family values includes the likes of Newt Gingrich, Larry Craig, Mark Sanford, John Ensign, Rush Limbaugh, Mark Foley, David Vitter, Bob Packwood, Jim West, Bob Livingston, Rudy Giuliani, Tom Evans, Buz Lukins, Bob Bauman, Jon Hinson, Bob Allen, Dave Crane, Don Sherwood, Ken Calvert. Certainly not a complete list and there will surely be more to come.
The time is now for those very Family Values Party Members to denounce that they truly represent family values.
Their betrayals are widespread, involve not only cheating on their wives, but also include sexual activity with underage and same sex partners.
Mark Sanford, admitting a series of trysts, was one of the loudest during Bill Clinton's impeachment hearings demanding that he resign for his indiscretions, yet he does not see the need for himself to resign. Seems that the religious right truly is a forgiving bunch, all one has to do is come out and apologize for their indiscretion and all will be forgiven. Bullshit.
It is time for us to demand more from those that lead us. It is time to hold them to their talking points. How can our children look up to any politician and believe what they are saying, how can we allow this hypocritical approach to exist. They pronounce themselves as the saviors of children via anti-abortion laws, yet have no problem killing hundreds of thousands for an unjust war. They claim to be for families, yet deny children healthcare. They say they are for the people, but only support big business and rich folk.
Enuf!