Field Hearing on Gambling Prohibition Act Tomorrow

A field hearing on the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act featuring Congressman Jim Leach and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist will take place in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, tomorrow (Thursday, Aug. 31). The hearing is open to the public.

It may only be a “hearing” in name, though. All the people scheduled to speak, including the politicians, are in favor of the Gambling Prohibition Act, but that shouldn’t surprise no one as Leach is the co-sponsor of the bill. The hearing takes place at the Clark Alumni House on the Coe College campus at 1:30 p.m.

Speakers include current senior manager of football operations for the NFL Merton Hanks (the NFL is in favor of the Act), Mark Vander Linden of the Iowa Department of Health (speaking on gambling addiction), Jeff Peterzalek of the state’s Attorney General’s office, as well as representatives from religious groups.

The Gambling Prohibition Act -- also known as H.R. 4411 -- seeks to stop all forms of online gambling, including online poker.

Click here to read an explaining detailing the Act.

Leach is pushing Frist hard to have Congress take up this issue as soon as possible, and he may some political currency backing him up. Iowa is an important state when it comes to running for President of the United States because the Iowa caucus takes place so early in the lection season.

Michael Bolcerek, present of the Poker Players Alliance, encouraged players from Iowa to be heard at the hearing, and also encouraged the politicians to have an open mind about this issue.

"The Poker Players Alliance supports an open dialogue to discuss this issue and we sincerely hope that the interests of poker enthusiasts in the state of Iowa will be heard at the field hearing,” Bolcerek wrote in a statement. “At the same time, while millions of poker players across the country care about this issue, we do not believe that Internet poker is of critical importance to the average Iowan.

Field hearings focusing on high gas prices, quality education and healthcare, or the escalating war on terror would be a much more appropriate and productive use of taxpayer dollars.”

He went on to write: "The PPA values the leadership of Rep. Leach and Sen. Frist and we sincerely hope that they will shift their focus away from prohibiting a game of skill enjoyed by 23 million Americans on the Internet to more timely and relevant issues facing the people of Iowa and this country."

courtesy of cardplayer.com

News Added: 30 August, 2006

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