Excellent editorial in today's Washington Times- "Frist shows his hand"

Search

New member
Joined
Sep 20, 2004
Messages
987
Tokens
For those of you who don't know, the Washington Times is considered a conservative newspaper.

http://washingtontimes.com/op-...0915-090722-7421r.htm

Frist shows his hand
TODAY'S EDITORIAL
September 16, 2006

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is trying to force through a restriction on Internet gambling by incorporating it into the FY 2007 defense appropriations bill, according to reports. By attaching a measure intended to ban Internet gambling to a necessary armed services appropriations bill, Mr. Frist would deprive the members of the opportunity to debate and voice their opposition to this controversial legislation. Indeed, no Senate committee has held a single hearing to debate online gambling prohibition. Although a bill banning Internet gambling passed in the House in July, companion legislation has not yet been introduced in the Senate. Mr. Frist should not be so eager to bypass a much-needed discussion on this legislation.

The legality of Internet gambling, which ranges from casino games to horse racing and lottery, is ambiguous. The Justice Department believes that it's illegal under the 1961 Wire Act, but, without a successful prosecution, it's not clear how that argument will stand up in court. Hence the House, led by Republican Reps. Bob Goodlatte and Jim Leach, passed an anti-gambling ban that would update the Wire Act and prevent credit card companies and banks from processing transactions from gambling Web sites, all in order to ban online gambling -- with the exception, that is, of the carve outs secured by special-interest groups for online horse racing and the lottery.

We support an individual's right to be free to gamble online and opposes a proscription on those grounds, and on the grounds that enforcement would be so difficult as to make it untenable. Between our view and the outright prohibition that Mr. Frist supports, however, is the position that regulation could legalize Internet gambling and bring the nearly $4 billion offshore industry back into the United States and under U.S. controls. This is the option that many gambling Web sites and their supporters have advocated, and it is clearly better than the complete moratorium Mr. Frist is trying to push through the Senate.

At the very least, this legislation deserves a thorough debate and vetting. Senators deserve the chance to ask some important questions. Why the carve out for horse racing and the lottery? How will the proposed prohibition function if gamblers use foreign banks not subject to U.S. regulations? And if it gamblers do circumvent the restriction, will federal regulators start banning access to certain Web sites? Or will they start targeting individual gamblers?

These are questions that should not be thrown to the wind, but will be if Mr. Frist succeeds and the legislation becomes a part of the defense appropriations bill.
 

Active member
Joined
Jun 20, 2000
Messages
71,780
Tokens
wow great read JAY! this is a great article maybe the powers that be in the senate will read it and take some notice...good news they are exposing frist for what he really is a sneak!
 

New member
Joined
Sep 20, 2004
Messages
2,690
Tokens
One key Seanator for us to contact is Mitch McConnell [R-Ky]. McConnell is the Senate Majority Whip and is one of the Senators who will be negotiating next week.

As we all know there is a horse racing carve out for now, yet folks up here are a bit nervous to say the least as to what may be on the horizon next if Frist has his way.

McConnell has the responsibility of protecting the interests of the all powerful Kentucky horse racing industry which essentially drives the economy of Kentucky. The feeling up here right now is that this ill wind is blowing too close to home.

A call to McConnell would not at all be wasted, however it should be framed correctly and be delivered from the perspective of "what's next for us [thoroughbred industry] if this bill is attached and passes." That is the raw nerve being exposed in these parts.

Senator Mitch McConnell
Phone [202] 224-2541
Fax [202] 224-2499
 

Forum statistics

Threads
1,106,898
Messages
13,439,321
Members
99,339
Latest member
billcunninghamhomeloans
The RX is the sports betting industry's leading information portal for bonuses, picks, and sportsbook reviews. Find the best deals offered by a sportsbook in your state and browse our free picks section.FacebookTwitterInstagramContact Usforum@therx.com