Home / Poker News August 2011 / Rep. Joe Barton’s Poker Bill
Rep. Joe Barton’s Poker Bill
Posted by: Mark Baldwing - Sun, 2011-08-14 02:30
Congress heads out on a month-long recess, which means that there will be no legal movements around any of the online poker initiatives currently pending. What it does not mean though is that players should lay back and accept the fact that their hopes have just been tabled again.
Representatives will not head out to a tropical island to lay belly-up in the sun though, instead they will head back to their districts, to pick the minds of their constituents among other things. That makes the upcoming few weeks a time when players can reach out and contact their representatives, letting them know that they support HR 2366, Rep. Joe Barton’s initiative to legalize and regulate online poker and gambling.
The PPA (Poker Players Alliance) encourages its members and non-members to take advantage of this opportunity. According to the organization, those living in the districts of House Energy and Commerce Committee members should be extra active as it would be a positive twist to have that Committee hold a hearing on HR 2366 after the congressional break.
The decision on the hearing belongs to Fred Upton (R-Michigan), so he should be a prime target for players aiming to let their voices be heard in the matter.
The PPA’s site features an online action center which allows voters to identify their representatives and to contact them. The site also aids players by offering them suggested talking points and sample letters they can use when contacting their representatives.
While individual players may find it difficult to have an appointment scheduled with their lawmakers about the legal status of
online poker, given that so many other matters take precedence over it, groups of 10 or more people are bound to carry more weight, therefore the PPA recommends that players use social media to organize group meetings.
Townhall meetings during the month of August represent another opportunity for players to make their collective voices heard.
