Not Again: Bush Administration to Use "Midnight Rules" and Sneak Through UIGEA Finalization
Just when Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass) was making headway in clarifying and carving out poker from the UIGEA, word has hit that the Bush administration plans to sneak finalization of the Act into law before it turns the lights off in the White House.
If pushed through, the UIGEA would come into effect on January 19, 2009.
From the PPA:
The current Administration is hastily finalizing a number of “midnight rules” before they leave office and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) is on the list. See the 11/06 story in Dow Jones. Just like UIGEA was snuck into legislation in the dark of night in 2006, our opponents are again trying an 11th hour sneak job. We need you to help us expose and stop this reckless rulemaking.
Please call the U.S. Federal Reserve and tell them not to approve the UIGEA regulations — Board of Governors, 202-974-7008 or Public Affairs, 202-452-2955.
- Tell them: The federal agencies responsible for our nation’s economy should not be focused on Internet poker regulations.
- Finalization of the UIGEA rules will add additional burdens on our already crippled financial systems.
- Internet poker is a game of skill and form of recreation for millions of Americans; it should be exempted from the UIGEA.
- Please do not finalize the UIGEA regulations until their impact on our banking systems and average Americans has been fully studied.
If you care at all about playing online poker, take a minute to call the above numbers or take 15 seconds to go online and fill this form out and email this address.
Again, at a minimum, fill this form out and email this address.
MORE: Following the money, it's once again the NFL that is behind getting the Act pushed through, with former NFL lobbyist and now Bush administration appointee Bill Wichterman running point.
(Read Barney Frank's letter to the Federal Reserve and Treasury after the jump)
View the whole letter here.
Frank Calls on Bush Administration to Delay Internet Gambling Regulations
Rules to take effect on January 19; Bush promised end to “midnight regulations”Washington, DC - House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) today wrote to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Board of Governors Chairman Ben Bernanke asking them to postpone issuing regulations pursuant to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act.
Frank wrote, “I am deeply disappointed to hear that your agency is proceeding with what I consider to be unseemly haste in issuing regulations implementing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. This midnight rulemaking will tie the hands of the new Administration, burden the financial services industry at a time of economic crisis, and contradict the stated intent of the Financial Services Committee”
Thanks for the heads up boys. I sent mine in and it took 10 seconds.
xo
Lacey
Posted by: Lacey J | November 11, 2008 at 11:50 PM