- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
October 5, 2006 at 10:26 pm #597656AnonymousInactive
I sent a letter to Senator Mel Martinez in Florida asking him how the internet gambling bill could be attached and passed to an unrelated bill without having the opportunity to be debated. This was his response to me, it is quite revealing. I will be writing him back.
Dear Mr. —,
Thank you for contacting me regarding gambling on the Internet. I appreciate hearing from you and would like to respond to your concerns.
Internet gambling has increased in popularity in the United States and around the world. It is estimated American’s wager more than $6 billion each year online. Federal law places many restrictions on Internet gambling. Many of these laws were enacted to prevent unwelcome intrusions of interstate or international gambling in states where the activity is outlawed. However, these laws have been difficult to enforce because many gambling enterprises operate overseas outside the jurisdiction of the United States.
On September 30, 2006, the Senate approved the conference report to the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act (H.R. 4954). This legislation would strictly prohibit financial transactions for all forms of Internet gambling, with the exception of horse racing. It would also require the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve to issue regulations outlining procedures that financial institutions could use to identify and stop Internet gambling-related transactions from being transmitted through their systems. H.R. 4954 awaits consideration by the President.
Again, thank you for sharing your concerns. If you have any further questions or comments, please contact me. For more information about issues and activities important to Florida, please sign up for my weekly newsletter at http://martinez.senate.gov.
Sincerely,
Mel Martinez
United States SenatorOctober 5, 2006 at 10:33 pm #710197AnonymousInactiveWell, that senator should have taken a stance on it rather than regurgitate what we already know. :madat:
At least it´s a reply. And he/she is trying to build a mailing list :wink-wink
October 5, 2006 at 10:55 pm #710201AnonymousInactiveForm letter…didn’t reveal a thing we didn’t know a week ago….
October 5, 2006 at 10:59 pm #710202AnonymousInactiveit is quite revealing
…that was meant to be sarcastic.
I wrote him back saying that I believed that if I took the time to ask the question, he should take the time to respond with more than just a stock reply.
October 5, 2006 at 11:27 pm #710205AnonymousInactiveOK…..
If he’s up for election, I’m sure you know how to vote……..
October 5, 2006 at 11:30 pm #710208AnonymousInactiveFrom what I understand from the few friends I have in the political circuit, physical print letters are viewed as far more important (and representative of a concerned citizen) than emails. An email requires little effort to throw together – a print letter implies that the author was willing to invest at least a few cents and some time & energy.
If you want to get your rep’s attention, apparently hand-signed letters work much better.
Too bad its a crummy form letter. It would’ve been nice to get a real opinion from a real person over in DC.
Cheers,
October 5, 2006 at 11:55 pm #710211AnonymousInactiveI sent a letter to my Senator about this bill a week before it passed, and
yesterday I received a response that said he would look into the bill
before it comes up for debate in the Senate. DUH! It passed already.October 6, 2006 at 2:08 am #710230AnonymousInactivehey at least yours knew it was attached, mine in ohio were shocked.
October 6, 2006 at 5:51 am #710245AnonymousInactiveallfreechips wrote:hey at least yours knew it was attached, mine in ohio were shocked.
All OH reps and sentators (expect for Oxley who didn’t vote) voted yes, so they don’t even know what they’re voting for but they vote yes and now they say they are shocked. Lame excuse. I know crap gets snuck onto bills but that’s still lame.October 6, 2006 at 1:12 pm #710301yorktownMemberCGW wrote:I sent a letter to Senator Mel Martinez in Florida asking him how the internet gambling bill could be attached and passed to an unrelated bill without having the opportunity to be debated. This was his response to me, it is quite revealing. I will be writing him back.I got the same, exact letter from Mel.
-
AuthorPosts