by Hillary LaClair, Senior Editor
It is of no surprise that following the recent implementation of the UIGEA – again – that the Poker Players Alliance is outraged and urging its members to fight against it. The Enforcement Act is set to go into effect on January 19th, the day before the official exit of the Bush administration.
“Despite the efforts of the poker community, the opposition of the banks and the recent news exposing inappropriate influence by the White House, today the current administration finalized the UIGEA regulations to be made effective on January 19th the day before president-elect Obama officially takes office,” read a statement issued from chairman Alphonse D’Amato to PPA members. “A copy of the final UIGEA regulations and the PPA’s response can be found on our Web site.
“I am sure that you share my outrage over this last-minute ‘midnight rulemaking,’ but I have not lost my drive to correct this injustice and I call on you to join me and the million strong PPA to help continue our fight. In fact, the Politico Newspaper reports on 11/12 that Congressional leaders are already plotting legislation for next year that will undermine the White House’s ‘midnight’ regulations. We must make sure that the UIGEA is part of the regulation reversal.”
There are a number of actions that the PPA has suggested that its members take in order to sway the Congressional votes – the first being to call members of Congress and voice an opinion on the regulatory act. “…let him or her know how disappointed you are by the lame duck administration’s implementation of UIGEA and subsequent erosion of your personal freedom.”
The second action that the PPA recommends is for its members to contact the Obama Transition team by e-mail in order to get the message to the President-elect that they want change in the way of online poker gambling. In this way, members are urged to influence the upcoming administration to take advantage of the Congressional Review Act of 1996, enabling Congress to overturn legislation passed by Bush’s administration.
The PPA has also asked its members to become patrons by paying a $20 Premium Member fee, and those who are already paying members to make more contributions – be it financial or volunteer work.
The final message is for Poker Players Alliance members to spread the word to their online poker-playing buddies and to keep themselves informed and up-to-date on developments in the industry.
“This is not the time to bow our heads in defeat; rather we must continue our efforts with renewed vigor,” the statement concludes. Members may access ratings of state Senators and Congressmen by entering their zip code on the website. The PPA additionally supplies its members with a list of legislators to contact.
As always, the PPA emulates its mission statement to “establish favorable laws that provide poker players with a secure, safe and regulated place to play. Through education and awareness the PPA will keep this game of skill, one of America’s oldest recreational activities, free from egregious government intervention and misguided laws.”
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