October 15 - In a bid to delay the implementation of the regulations
governing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act that are due to set in
by the end of this year, at least nineteen US legislators have petitioned the
Treasury Secretary on the subject.
The letter, penned by tireless pro gambling Representative Barney Frank and
Pete King, was signed by another 17 legislators who sad that the UIGEA
rules would only exacerbate the tough economic conditions that the United States
finds itself in at present.
The legislators said that the United States needs time and energy to recover
from the current recession, and the system could not support rules that would
only complicate and burden it.
The letter said that "we also believe this is an unreasonable burden on
regulators and the financial services industry at a time of economic crisis."
Barney Frank serves as Head of the House of Financial Services Committee in
the United States.
The group said that the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act is
"fundamentally flawed" and urged the government to seriously consider halting
the implementation of the regulations for the time being.
It also told Treasury that strong efforts are being made to pass bills that
would essentially remove the UIGEA from the scene and therefore it only seems
right to freeze the implementation until then.
In the meantime, Barney Frank has managed to secure his fifty ninth and
sixtieth co-sponsor for this bill to end the UIGEA.
Congressmen Bennie Thompson and Adam Smith became the latest supporters of
the bill that has attracted representatives from across the board in the
political spectrum.
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