Internet Gambling ban facing more opposition besides WTO
written April 12, 2007
Rep. Barney Frank said Thursday he would start pushing to lift a U.S. ban on online gambling in the next few weeks, but said it was too early to make any concrete move to lift restrictions ruled illegal last month by the World Trade Organization.
Frank, D-Mass., who chairs the House Financial Services Committee, told reporters that the online gambling bill passed last fall was "one of the stupidest things I ever saw."
"I want to get it undone. I plan to file legislation," Barney said, explaining that he would lay out his plans in the next couple of weeks but would not move them forward until other lawmakers are on board.
"I think a reconsideration among my colleagues is beginning," he said. "It's not far enough along yet so I wouldn't move the bill but I plan to introduce the bill and if (the) storm of public unhappiness is great enough, I will try to substantially revise that ban."
Maybe even more importantly, Congress is starting to ask questions about Antigua. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the ranking Republican member of the House Congressional Committee on Foreign Affairs, wrote a letter dated March 20, 2007 (
http://www.antiguawto.com/LettertoUSTR.pdf) airing concerns about what the Trade Representative plans to do to ameliorate the issues in the favorable ruling for Antigua.
Rep. Ros-Lehtinen noted, "…our failure to resolve this dispute may harm our credibility as we seek to press countries like China regarding their violations on a range of issues, including intellectual property protection, subsidies, and currency manipulation." She further warned, "In the event the United States fails to reach a satisfactory resolution of the Antigua dispute, it could provide China with an argument to ignore a WTO decision favorable to the United States."
This is good news for gamblers because ultimately change must come from Congress. To hear they are paying attention to WTO rulings despite the outright denial of guilt by the USTR is a positive sign. The fact it comes from a member of the President's party makes it even more promising.
The President's appointees so far have handled the case with general disdain. The Trade Representative made a bizarre claim that horse race wagering conducted over state lines is actually illegal and just hasn't been enforced. With responses like this it's safe to say the President's people have little intention of budging a bit to accommodate Antigua.
Perhaps Barney Franks can bring a new light to this dark story
Below is a link to more discussion about this topic
http://forums.eog.com/online-sportsb...all-81967.html
written By Kenneth Weitzner--EOG
Barney f\*g pushing to lift online gambling ban
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Originally Posted by BuddyBear
