bigdog111
Rock Star
Silver Level
Ohios slacking
only 2 reps from Ohio on list mines not one Ive sent another letter to both of them Ive received reply from only one, so i will keep sending, my senator also replied to the letter,more of acknowledgment on getting one from me, dissapointed in Rep.M Kaptor no reply!
only 2 reps from Ohio on list mines not one Ive sent another letter to both of them Ive received reply from only one, so i will keep sending, my senator also replied to the letter,more of acknowledgment on getting one from me, dissapointed in Rep.M Kaptor no reply!
StormRaven
Cardschat Elite
Silver Level
I am from Michigan. Below is the letter I sent to: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Senator Carl Levin (D), Senator Debbie Stabenow (D) & Representative Dave Camp (R)
I've added a couple of personal touches, I've written many letters, have received a few responses (mostly about school funding, busing and second amendment rights) and I usually received responses on the letters that I added some personal touches to.
Hello, my name is ........ and I reside in Grand Traverse County. I am writing to you today to encourage you to support H.R. 2267, the Internet gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act. Legislation is clearly needed to create a practical and enforceable framework to license and regulate Internet poker in the U.S.
As a person with physical disabilities, I enjoy the freedom to play poker online, in the safety and security of my home, as is my right. Rather than legislate an individual's leisure activities, contradictory to our country's concept of personal freedoms, Congress should regulate internet poker and implement controls to protect consumers and ensure safe internet transactions. I also enjoy the freedom of playing poker live at my local casino (Turtle Creek Casino) and for some charity events as well as contributing to some wonderful charities through my online poker playing.
I understand that there are some fears of a few becoming addicted and developing a gambling problem. These fears should not be argument enough to revoke the personal freedoms of millions of Americans due to a small percentage of those who are unable to demonstrate good judgment or self control. This argument is as weak as suggesting all alcohol should be banned due to a small percentage of the population who become alcoholics.
As Congress works to find funding for critical government programs; and as Michigan struggles with the highest unemployment rate in the country, the regulation of Internet poker is expected to generate for the U.S. Treasury from $48.6 billion (excluding online sports gambling) to $62.7 billion (including online sports gambling) in new revenue.
I implore you to support H.R. 2267. As an avid poker player (mainly Texas Hold 'Em) who has played over a million hands of poker and has countless hours of studies into its intricacies and strategies, I can attest that poker is indeed a game of skill. Luck is only a small factor as it is in most other sporting activities. Current efforts to prohibit internet poker are futile. Americans are still playing poker and gambling via other avenues online: right now they are doing so in an unregulated and potentially unsafe environment. We should be afforded the highest standard of consumer protection while helping our state and country to generate millions to billions of dollars in revenue. This is an easy win - win scenario for all.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
............
*OKay fellow Michiganders - I want to hear from you that you to have written a letter!
**If I receive a response from any of the above I will share it in this thread.
I've added a couple of personal touches, I've written many letters, have received a few responses (mostly about school funding, busing and second amendment rights) and I usually received responses on the letters that I added some personal touches to.
Hello, my name is ........ and I reside in Grand Traverse County. I am writing to you today to encourage you to support H.R. 2267, the Internet gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act. Legislation is clearly needed to create a practical and enforceable framework to license and regulate Internet poker in the U.S.
As a person with physical disabilities, I enjoy the freedom to play poker online, in the safety and security of my home, as is my right. Rather than legislate an individual's leisure activities, contradictory to our country's concept of personal freedoms, Congress should regulate internet poker and implement controls to protect consumers and ensure safe internet transactions. I also enjoy the freedom of playing poker live at my local casino (Turtle Creek Casino) and for some charity events as well as contributing to some wonderful charities through my online poker playing.
I understand that there are some fears of a few becoming addicted and developing a gambling problem. These fears should not be argument enough to revoke the personal freedoms of millions of Americans due to a small percentage of those who are unable to demonstrate good judgment or self control. This argument is as weak as suggesting all alcohol should be banned due to a small percentage of the population who become alcoholics.
As Congress works to find funding for critical government programs; and as Michigan struggles with the highest unemployment rate in the country, the regulation of Internet poker is expected to generate for the U.S. Treasury from $48.6 billion (excluding online sports gambling) to $62.7 billion (including online sports gambling) in new revenue.
I implore you to support H.R. 2267. As an avid poker player (mainly Texas Hold 'Em) who has played over a million hands of poker and has countless hours of studies into its intricacies and strategies, I can attest that poker is indeed a game of skill. Luck is only a small factor as it is in most other sporting activities. Current efforts to prohibit internet poker are futile. Americans are still playing poker and gambling via other avenues online: right now they are doing so in an unregulated and potentially unsafe environment. We should be afforded the highest standard of consumer protection while helping our state and country to generate millions to billions of dollars in revenue. This is an easy win - win scenario for all.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
............
*OKay fellow Michiganders - I want to hear from you that you to have written a letter!
**If I receive a response from any of the above I will share it in this thread.
arahel_jazz
Unbalanced and Committed
Silver Level
I just returned from the Blackhat Security conference in Vegas where one of the keynote speakers was the Assistant Secretary of Defense in charge of cybersecurity. I also attended lectures from members of the NSA, NCIS, and Homeland Security, among others.
Why do I point that out in this thread? Because one of them pointed out that if you are writing a physical letter to any member of the Congress or White House, it goes to a special post office where it is put through a chemical process to destroy Anthrax. You guessed it, any writing you had on any paper is gone forever. Seriously. I'm not kidding.
The presenter said that the best way to get in touch with your Congressman is by e-mail. They DO read it (constantly). All of the Congressional people read their email on their Blackberry's. Some even twitter, but I wouldn't count on it.
Bottom line - stop killing trees and having your voice not be heard.
Go electronic.
Why do I point that out in this thread? Because one of them pointed out that if you are writing a physical letter to any member of the Congress or White House, it goes to a special post office where it is put through a chemical process to destroy Anthrax. You guessed it, any writing you had on any paper is gone forever. Seriously. I'm not kidding.
The presenter said that the best way to get in touch with your Congressman is by e-mail. They DO read it (constantly). All of the Congressional people read their email on their Blackberry's. Some even twitter, but I wouldn't count on it.
Bottom line - stop killing trees and having your voice not be heard.
Go electronic.
StormRaven
Cardschat Elite
Silver Level
I was not aware of this, I did send my letters via e-mail and thank you for posting this valuable info!
JeffreyS
Enthusiast
Silver Level
You guys are great, we have already seen a surge in the number of people contacting their reps through our website!
Keep up the good work! and tell your friends.
Again, you can take action here: https://ssl.capwiz.com/safeandsecure/issues/bills/
Keep up the good work! and tell your friends.
Again, you can take action here: https://ssl.capwiz.com/safeandsecure/issues/bills/
Tammy
Can I help you?
Administrator
It really irks me that Barney Frank is the one behind this (I personally can't stand him or his buddy Nancy Pelosi), but in this one instance I have to be on his side. I have sent emails to Congress, as well as signed petitions through the PPA site, but will now also contact my Congressman Dan Lungren. Hopefully we'll see his name on the list above soon.
StormRaven
Cardschat Elite
Silver Level
Response from Senator Stabenow
Below is the response from the letter I posted above that I received from Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow. She isn't saying she will support the bill, but she doesn't say she won't either.
Thank you . . .
. . . for contacting me about online poker. I understand your concerns.
As you may know, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act (H.R.2267) has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Jim McDermott (D-Washington). This bill would make skill games including poker, mah-jongg, bridge, and chess exempt from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) passed in 2006. There has not been similar legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate. Should this bill come before me in the Senate, I will keep your views in mind.
Thank you for contacting me. Please continue to keep me informed about issues of concern to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Debbie Stabenow
United States Senator
DS:SM
Below is the response from the letter I posted above that I received from Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow. She isn't saying she will support the bill, but she doesn't say she won't either.
Thank you . . .
. . . for contacting me about online poker. I understand your concerns.
As you may know, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act (H.R.2267) has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Jim McDermott (D-Washington). This bill would make skill games including poker, mah-jongg, bridge, and chess exempt from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) passed in 2006. There has not been similar legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate. Should this bill come before me in the Senate, I will keep your views in mind.
Thank you for contacting me. Please continue to keep me informed about issues of concern to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Debbie Stabenow
United States Senator
DS:SM
T
thepit89
Enthusiast
Silver Level
Stabenow won't do anything about it, she hasn't been doing much for Michigan at all~
Tammy
Can I help you?
Administrator
I used a variation of Storm Raven's letter (omitting the necessary parts and adding my own flair), and here is the response I received:
Thank you for contacting me in regards to online freedom. I always appreciate hearing from a fellow Californian on this and other important issues.
From the outset, it must be noted that the Internet is a wonderful tool that facilitates a full and free exchange of ideas among individuals. The freedom of speech we currently enjoy on the Internet is something I am working to protect in Congress. No one should have the ability to control the content of the Internet, including the federal government. For this reason, I have consistently opposed taxing Internet commerce. I voted in the Judiciary Committee to make the ban on taxing the Internet permanent, and when that measure failed, voted to continue banning Internet taxes for four years (H.R. 3678; 110th Congress).
In the past, I have supported a "net neutrality" bill (H.R. 5417; 109th Congress), the Internet Freedom and Non-Discrimination Act, introduced by then-Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner. This legislative proposal was necessary because the Judiciary Committee was not given jurisdiction over another bill-the Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act (H.R. 5252; 109th Congress)-in which all enforcement authority was placed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Since the FCC has no experience with this type of enforcement responsibility, they are simply not equipped to adequately protect against the abuse of market position and discrimination. Furthermore, under the original version of H.R. 5252, the Department of Justice would have been denied the authority to use anti-trust laws to protect consumers. In response to these omissions, I supported the Sensenbrenner proposal.
In this Congress, Congressman Barney Frank has introduced the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2267). H.R. 2267 would provide for the licensing of Internet gambling activities by the Secretary of the Treasury. The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, of which I am a member. Please be assured that I will keep your views in mind as the legislation moves through Committee.
_______________________________________
Looks promising to me.
Thank you for contacting me in regards to online freedom. I always appreciate hearing from a fellow Californian on this and other important issues.
From the outset, it must be noted that the Internet is a wonderful tool that facilitates a full and free exchange of ideas among individuals. The freedom of speech we currently enjoy on the Internet is something I am working to protect in Congress. No one should have the ability to control the content of the Internet, including the federal government. For this reason, I have consistently opposed taxing Internet commerce. I voted in the Judiciary Committee to make the ban on taxing the Internet permanent, and when that measure failed, voted to continue banning Internet taxes for four years (H.R. 3678; 110th Congress).
In the past, I have supported a "net neutrality" bill (H.R. 5417; 109th Congress), the Internet Freedom and Non-Discrimination Act, introduced by then-Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner. This legislative proposal was necessary because the Judiciary Committee was not given jurisdiction over another bill-the Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act (H.R. 5252; 109th Congress)-in which all enforcement authority was placed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Since the FCC has no experience with this type of enforcement responsibility, they are simply not equipped to adequately protect against the abuse of market position and discrimination. Furthermore, under the original version of H.R. 5252, the Department of Justice would have been denied the authority to use anti-trust laws to protect consumers. In response to these omissions, I supported the Sensenbrenner proposal.
In this Congress, Congressman Barney Frank has introduced the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2267). H.R. 2267 would provide for the licensing of Internet gambling activities by the Secretary of the Treasury. The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, of which I am a member. Please be assured that I will keep your views in mind as the legislation moves through Committee.
_______________________________________
Looks promising to me.