FRANK BILL SIGNS UP THREE MORE SPONSORS FOR ONLINE GAMBLING BILL (Update)

15 June 2007

Congressman is building support for bill that seeks to legalise and license online gambling

There's still a long political haul ahead, but Congressman Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and author of Bill HR 2046 which seeks to license and regulate online gambling in the United States, is using his considerable experience and legislative clout to continue building support for his proposal.

Frank aides report that the Congressman's "Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act" gained another three sponsors in Representatives Howard L. Berman, Bob Filner and James McGovern last week, who join 19 other Congressmen and women supporting the bill.
The list includes Indiana representative Julia Carson who switched her support away from the UGIEA during the Financial Services Committee hearings on HR 2046 last Friday when noone could answer her challenge of why Indiana gamblers could make Kentucky Derby (horseracing) bets online but not other Internet wagers.

Reports from the hearing were that the witnesses – and the committee – sat in stunned silence waiting for someone to answer the question – "...but all that came was a feeble mumble from someone on the panel that it should be legal."

Minutes later, Carson repeated the question and once again received no answer. She then declared her support for Frank's IGREA and said she had been mistaken last year in voting for the UIGEA.

So far the following politicians have 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.

Gary L. Ackerman
Howard L. Berman
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
Wm. Lacy Clay
Steve Israel
Carolyn McCarthy
Ron Paul [TX-14]
Ciro D. Rodriguez
Edolphus Towns
Robert Wexler

The aide 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.

HR 2046 was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for study and comment on issues relevant to those committees that reside within the bill.

Congressman Frank reportedly does not yet feel that he has attracted sufficient support to go to the House floor for a vote, but he is said to be determined to continue promoting the bill and seeking further sponsorship for it.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa