Posted on 09/30/2006 9:43:50 AM PDT by Alterboy1964
Congress approves Internet gambling ban bill
By Peter Kaplan Reuters Saturday, September 30, 2006; 12:52 AM
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most forms of Internet gambling would be banned under a bill that received final U.S. congressional approval early Saturday.
The House of Representatives and Senate approved the measure and sent it to President George W. Bush to sign into law.
The bill, a compromise between earlier versions passed by the two chambers, would make it illegal for banks and credit card companies to make payments to online gambling sites.
Democrats had accused Republicans of pushing the bill to placate its conservative base, particularly the religious right, before the November 7 congressional elections.
"It's been over 10 years in the making. The enforcement provisions provided by this bill will go a long way to stop these illegal online operations," said Sen. Jon Kyl, an Arizona Republican and a chief sponsor of the measure.
Negotiators from the Republican-led House and Senate reached a deal on the legislation Friday and attached it to unrelated legislation to bolster port security, which the Congress approved.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican and potential 2008 presidential candidate, recently appeared at a hearing in Iowa -- the state that holds the first presidential nominating contest for the 2008 election -- to listen to concerns about Internet gambling.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Amen.
You signed up just to post this?
"If the President hasn't signed this yet...he shouldn't"
He won't. it was tacked on to the Port Security by Bill Frist in the Senate and Dennis Hastert in House. The Port Security Bill passed unanimously in then Senate and with only two votes against in the House. It is highly probable that most members of Congress didn't even know the anti-gambling legislation was in the bill when they voted on it.
ping
I've been saying that for years!!!!
You conveniently forget that businesses are primarily in business to make money.
Why spend millions of dollars in start-up costs, hiring, construction, land, etc. when they can run the same enterprise for a fraction of the cost?
Not likely. This is a capitalistic endeavor. The goal of the terrorists is to destroy the infratructure that makes capitalism possible.
Good bye personal freedoms!
I bet this is the dumbest post I read today.
With the rake they are taking no doubt.........
You conveniently forget that businesses are primarily in business to make money.
Just saying that if I were in congress, I'd support bills that either created jobs or kept jobs in the U.S. Flame me if you will, but that's my opinion on the situation.
I've just about had it with the Republicans and corrupt Congresscriminals in general.
Because it's not "the same enterprise" anymore than sitting in front of your PC every waking hour for a week provides the same experience as a week's vacation in Las Vegas.
Shut down the stock exchanges...VULNERABLE people can lose thousands there.
...sitting in front of your PC every waking hour for a week provides the same experience as a week's vacation in Las Vegas.
Oddly, both leave you in the same psychological and physical state...I can attest to this after more than 150 trips to Vegas for business.
Hypocrites. How our alterboy can't see that is beyond me.
As in, "Women and children... hardest hit."?????
As someone who plays Texas Hold'em and has not lost thousands, but has made thousands over the last 3 years on the Internet, this is ludicrous.
Maybe casino games are a form of gambling, but poker and sports betting is a skill.
Why doesn't Congress outlaw bingo in the church basement?
I know the Dems are out to lunch, but there seems to be still a large number of morons in the Republican Party who have no idea what the hell they're voting for.
Well it makes you a hypocrite. Because as a Republican Congressman, you're supposed to be in favor of the free market which weeds out inefficiencies and maximizes profits. That's what Internet gambling does for online casinos. Players also save tons of time which reduces opportunity costs more. I take it you're a RINO Congressman, hypothetically?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.