Ten-time World Series of Poker Champion Doyle Brunson doesn’t care much the ban on Internet gambling enacted last year — and he doesn’t understand it much, either, because so many people love poker.
“America wants poker. … All the presidents play poker,” Brunson said in an interview posted online by the Poker Players Alliance. “The Supreme Court justices play poker. The lawyers, the judges. I don’t understand it.”
So does that mean Brunson thinks President Bush and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts are closet Internet gamblers? It’s tough to say, but he said he was so troubled by enactment of the ban that he briefly stopped playing in poker tournaments. “For the first time, I lost my passion for poker simply because that happened.”
But Brunson has the passion back now that Barney Frank, D-Mass., has the reins of power in the House Financial Services Committee and is pushing legislation to repeal the Internet gambling ban. “I think if there’s any avid poker players out there, call your congressmen and support Barney Frank,” Brunson said.
Categories: Massachusetts, Technology, Barney Frank, Lobbying, Social Policy
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The House Financial Services Committee held a June 8 hearing on legislation to overturn a ban on Internet gambling that was just enacted last fall and hasn’t even been implemented yet. You can watch clips of the hearing online thanks to the Poker Players Alliance, which supports the legislation and opposes the ban.
Below are the first two clips, introductory statements by panel Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., and ranking Republican Spencer Bachus of Alabama. The remaining videos can be watched by clicking on these links: parts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.
Categories: Alabama, Massachusetts, Producer's Picks, Barney Frank, Spencer Bachus, Social Policy
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The Family Research Council makes the case against Internet gambling in this video, which features an evangelist whose son is now in prison because of his illegal online activities. The council urges people to call the White House and ask that laws against Web gambling be strictly enforced.
The video’s message runs counter to a recent appeal by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., to overturn the ban on e-gambling that President Bush enacted last fall.
Categories: Massachusetts, Barney Frank, Social Policy, Crime
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The ban on Internet gambling enacted last fall already is under fire from a key House Democrat. Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank of Massachusetts today introduced a bill to overturn the ban.
“The fundamental issue here is a matter of individual freedom,” Frank said at a press conference to announce the bill’s introduction. Noting that while he personally doesn’t enjoy Internet gambling, some people do, and “no member of Congress ought to arrogate to himself or herself the right to censure the leisure-time activitiy of other people.”
Categories: Massachusetts, Barney Frank, Social Policy, Crime
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Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank was in rare humorous form on Friday as the House neared conclusion of its debate on a bill to require shareholders to have an annual, nonbinding vote on their companies’ executive compensation plans.
Frank clearly was irritated by the minority’s “motion to recommit” the bill to committee, a move that would have stalled passage. “Parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Speaker.” he said as he began his protest to the motion. “Does whining come out of my time?”
A few minutes later, Frank accused Republicans of trying to “legislate by ambush,” which prompted audible complaints from the GOP members on the floor. “Mr. Speaker,” Frank quipped to laughter from his Democratic colleagues, “I had underestimated the tenderness of the feelings of the members opposite. I confess to insensitivity.”
Soon after that, a Republican member apparently asked Frank to yield some of his time for a response. “Of course not,” Frank said, again to Democratic laughter. “The gentleman asks for a courtesy. … Of course not.”
Categories: Massachusetts, Barney Frank, Friday Fun
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