Barney Frank Makes the Television Rounds Talking Online Gambling
Barney Frank's proposed legislation to overturn a 2006 ban on Internet gambling was the talk of the airways Wednesday. Frank is in high demand to appear on television news programs as he has thrust himself into the role of trying to solve the US economic crisis.
Even Lou Dobbs asked Congressman Frank about the online gambling legislation during an appearance on the popular CNN program.
Nearly every major media outlet including print picked up on the story.
The House Financial Services Chairman said Wednesday at a news conference introducing his bills that he hadn't spoken to either House or Senate leadership nor to the Obama administration about the online gambling bills. He said he planned on pushing them through Congress some time in August.
Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington authored another bill that would tax regulated online-gambling companies. Interestingly enough, Washington is the only state that makes it a Class C felony to place bets online.
So what is the media saying in response to Frank's plans?
From Fox News:
"If running major financial institutions and the auto industry isn't enough for the Obama administration, a new House bill would put the Treasury Department in charge of Internet gambling."
Needless-to-say, Citizen Link wasn't all that thrilled about Frank's determination to overturn the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).
Chad Hills was the only one quoted by that media outlet. He is an analyst for gambling and research at Focus on the Family.
"Frank is pushing dangerous, foreign gambling policy down the throats of U.S. citizens and families who do not want this predatory industry soliciting and exploiting them or their children.
"This is irresponsible and belligerent governance on Rep. Frank's behalf."
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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
