THREE MORE SPONSORS FOR ONLINE GAMBLING REGULATION PROPOSAL

3 August 2007

Barney Frank's Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act gathers momentum

Three more US Representatives have become co-sponsors of the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act in which Congressman Barney Frank proposes the regulation and taxation of online gambling in the United States as an alternative to current prohibitionary trends.

The latest politicians to support Frank's legislation are Representatives Joe Baca (CA-43), Neil Abercrombie (HI-1) and Lynn C. Woolsey (CA-6).

The addition of the latest co-sponsors grows the current list to 35, up from the bill's original 11 when Frank first introduced the Act to the House in April.

The new sign-ups join the following politicians who have previously signed up to support the Frank bill, which calls for online gambling in the United States to be taxed and regulated by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

Albert R. Wynn
Alcee L. Hastings
Anthony D. Weiner
Bennie G. Thompson
Don Young
Gary L. Ackerman
Howard L. Berman
James McGovern
Julia Carson
Joseph Crowley
Bob Filner
Luis V. Gutierrez
Peter T. King
Jim McDermott
James McGovern
Charlie Melancon
Ed Perlmutter
Linda T Sanchez
Melvin L. Watt
Shelly Berkley
Michael Capuano
Michael M. Honda
Wm. Lacy Clay
Steve Israel
Stephen R. Rothman
Carolyn McCarthy
Ron Paul
Ross Carnahan
Ciro D. Rodriguez
Edolphus Towns
Robert Wexler
Vito Fossella

Frank's aides have repeatedly said that interested parties calling their political representatives with expressions of support for the Frank bill were having a positive effect in encouraging politicians to re-examine the implications of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and the alternatives which HR 2046 presents.

If passed, Frank's bill will neutralise the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, signed into law by U.S. president George Bush last October. The UIGEA prohibits financial transactions from banks and credit card companies to Internet casinos, poker rooms and sports betting sites, and has been described by Frank and other politicians as "preposterous," "one of the stupidest laws ever passed by Congress" and as an invasion of American personal freedom.

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