On Monday, online poker proponent Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA, pictured) announced that he would not seek reelection in 2012, ending a Congressional run that began in 1980. Frank noted at a press conference held earlier this afternoon, “There are other things I would like to do with my life,” and the Associated Press added, “His retirement plans were hastened by two years by reapportionment, which moved 325,000 new constituents into his district.” He also lost a Democratic stronghold as part of the district reshuffling.Working with Frank and other online poker supporters on Capitol Hill over the last several years has been the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the main lobbying voice for poker players in the United States. The organization, which is 1.2 million members strong, must now seek another figurehead to champion online poker legislation.
PPA Executive Director John Pappas told PocketFives in an exclusive statement on Monday, “Congressman Barney Frank has been a champion for Americans’ civil liberties. His longtime support for the freedom of adults to play online poker in a safe and regulated environment has been invaluable to our organization and to the interests of the entire poker community.”
Pappas added that Frank’s legislation could pave the way for the legalization of our great game: “The introduction and passage of HR 2267 through the House Financial Services Committee last year helped build the foundation for the online poker legislative proposals under consideration today. The poker playing community will continue to build on the foundation established by Congressman Frank and we will forever be grateful for his fight for our personal freedoms.”
As we said, online poker must now find a new champion on Capitol Hill, a designation that could go to lawmakers like Congressmen Joe Barton (R-TX, pictured) and John Campbell (R-CA), the latter of whom introduced HR 1174 along with Frank earlier this year. The bill provides a framework for companies to offer legal internet gambling bets, including poker, through a web of state-run agencies.Pappas gave us a glimpse as to whom the PPA may turn to going forward: "While Congressman Frank may have been the first and most recognizable champion for internet gaming, other elected officials have followed his lead over the years. Today, the poker community has dozens of lawmakers who are eager to support our freedoms and the support is bipartisan. From Joe Barton (R-TX) to Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) to Steve Israel (D-NY) to John Campbell (R-CA), we are in a solid position of Congressional support moving forward.”
In a statement given to the Associated Press, U.S. President Barack Obama (pictured) hailed Frank’s work on the legislative front, including forging into law “the most sweeping financial reform in history, designed to protect consumers and prevent the kind of excessive risk-taking that led to the financial crisis from ever happening again.”On Monday, PocketFives also sat down with PPA Vice President of Player Relations Rich TheEngineer Muny, who explained, “I would echo John’s comments that Representative Frank has been a true champion for the rights of poker players. He stood up for us before the PPA even existed. He was on the floor against the UIGEA before poker players were doing the same thing.”
We’ve had several posters on PocketFives speculate that the remainder of Frank’s Congressional run could be “do or die time” for online poker legislation. Muny speculated that Frank will continue to champion the issue until his days in Congress come to an end: “He’s invested in our issue. I would expect for him to continue on as a champion on individual liberties. If he finds a way to make online poker legal, I would expect him to be supportive of it.”
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