The new PPA prefilled letter is out and ready to send. It takes just 60 seconds to send, so please take a moment to let Congress know you want your rights. Click here to send the letter.

You can Twitter a quick message asking others to write in only ten seconds! I wrote a prepopulated message. Click here to send the Tweet.

Finally, you can help support the guys who support us! Send a Tweet recommending P5s. Click here to send the Tweet.

Thanks!

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Here's the letter:

Co-sponsor and Support H.R. 2267, The Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act

I am a constituent, voter, and poker player asking for your support. Specifically, I ask that you co-sponsor and support H.R. 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act. I also ask that you support legislation that clearly exempts games of skill like poker from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA).

H.R. 2267 provides for sensible regulation of Internet gaming and puts the U.S. in charge of safeguarding its citizens. H.R. 2267 mandates rigorous safeguards against underage participation and protections for those with excessive gaming habits while providing consumer protections for the millions of Americans who play online poker every day. This bill will also allow American gaming companies to participate in the world's Internet gaming market, bringing needed jobs to America. Internet censorship and an unenforceable, unpopular prohibition provide none of these benefits. All censorship and prohibition can do is drive players underground or overseas while limiting my personal freedom.

Separately, something must be done to clarify the UIGEA. Our nation's financial institutions have repeatedly warned that UIGEA is overly broad, and that the lack of definition in the law could result in the disruption of lawful financial transactions. Indeed, with regulators, legislators and financial institutions all warning that UIGEA is unenforceable, and with the need for banks to focus on our economic recovery. Banks must fully comply with this burdensome law by December 1, 2009. Please act immediately to reform the UIGEA and exempt peer-to-peer games of skill like poker from its enforcement.

Poker is a proud American tradition and our nation's citizens have enjoyed poker for more than 150 years. It is an honorable game that I am proud to play. The simple fact that I choose to play it on the Internet does not make it unlawful.

What's most important to me is your support for my rights. Please respond to this letter and let me know you will support my freedoms. I will be watching your actions on this issue closely. I hope that I, along with my over one million fellow Poker Players Alliance members, can count on your support.

Thank you for your consideration.

After sending, please reply with "sent", "Twittered", etc. to encourage others. Thanks!

Twitter has been an effective communication tool for poker. I don't send tweets on what I ate for breakfast or anything -- I focus on real content. See www.twitter.com/theengineer2008 for how it can be used for sending actual information.

Twitter is nice because we can reach a bunch of people who, as a rule, care about Internet freedom pretty quickly. I have over 15,000 followers there. I -- along a bunch of others -- put out the word on the Minn. case and generated a quick deluge of phone calls, emails, and Tweets to Pawlenty, Willems, and MN state reps. We've received plenty of feedback on the effectiveness of this, so it was good. I believe we can do the same with all of our issues. So, thanks to everyone who gives it shot.

Sent and thank you for putting this up

Not a problem. Thanks for sending!

Sent. Thanks again Engineer, great job as always.

Thanks guys! Also, can one of you Twitter it as well as described in the OP? I just want someone to post how easy it was. Thanks.

Nice job. Focus on the Family is writing as well, so let's not let them outdo us.

Here it is:

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Internet Gambling: Irresponsible Policy

http://www.citizenlink.org/FOSI/gambling/A000004244.cfm

by Chad Hills [Updated: 05-08-2009]


On October 13, 2006, Congress passed legislation to stop illegal Internet gambling in the U.S [Article VIII of the SAFE Port Act, known as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (or UIGEA). Regulations were implemented on November 12, 2008. We must keep families safe from online predators that seek to exploit people for a profit.

[05-08-2009]

Frank: Pushing Irresponsible and Fiscally Ignorant Policy

Rep. Barney Frank is at it again. He's serving as a finger puppet for foreign online gambling interests and pushing their agenda into U.S. policy. The UC Group Ltd (UK) and the Interactive Gaming Council (Canada) are funding the Poker Player's Alliance (PPA) with $3 million to lobby U.S. Congress Members hard in 2009. Barney Frank seems all too happy carrying the ball for them. Responsible, fiscally conservative citizens are needed to help educate their Congress Members about these dangerous, exploitive Internet gambling policies.

Summary of Bills to Watch

H.R.2266 : Reasonable Prudence in Regulation Act

Sponsor: Barney Frank (D-MA)

Delays date that financial institutions were required to comply with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) and stop payment to illegal, unlicensed Internet gambling operations. This bill delays compliance by another year.

H.R. 2266 - Full Text (PDF)

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H.R.2267 : Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act

Sponsor: Barney Frank (D-MA)

Legalizes Internet gambling, liscenses foreign and domestic online gambling operations and taxes online gambling revenues.

H.R. 2267 - Full Text (PDF)

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H.R.2268 : Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act of 2009

Sponsor: Jim McDermott (D-WA)

Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to legalize and tax Internet gambling.

[No legislative text available for H.R. 2268 as of 5-8-2009]

[Text not available as of 5-8-2009[Text not available as of 5-8-2009[Text not available as of 5-8-2009 ]

Nice story Tmac. I'm glad you told him we want our rights. Well done!

sent

Thanks for your kind words and for sending the letter.

Everyone: If you've not yet written, please take a moment to send it. Congress needs to hear from us.

Great work so far! Let's keep it up.

Also, I need to ask you all a favor. I believe we can make a real difference if we stand together for our rights. I think the key to this is for all of us to participate on the Poker Legislation forum. Participation is really improving and there is a lot of information there. Will each of you help by checking it daily and posting there as well? P5s was really awesome in creating this forum, and I believe we can become the go-to site for all things related to poker legislation.

Thanks!

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Here's an example from today:

Gov. Perry is blocking the vote on HB222 (the bill that legalized land-based poker in Texas). Let's all amp up the pressure!

Contact info:

Phone: (800) 252-9600
Twitter: @GovernorPerry

I believe we should hit this with calls and Twitters. This was effective at getting us heard in Minn., so let's try it here. I wrote up some Twitters to Tweet. It takes just seconds to send these out, so let's all pitch in!

Click here to send Tweet #1: RT @PPApoker: PLZ tell TX @GovernorPerry at (800) 252-9600 to stop blocking a vote on HB 222, a bill that allows poker in Texas. PLS RT!"


Click here to send Tweet #2: "RT @PPApoker: PLZ tell TX @GovernorPerry at (800) 252-9600 that poker is a game of skill that should be legal in Texas. PLS RT."

Cool, thanks. I hope the other forums participate.

So....who's in??

Thanks!