ITH Poker Forum

[mchilger]

Thank you for contacting me to share your thoughts on H.R. 4976, legislation that creates a framework for the Federal government to collect revenue on Internet gambling activity. It is good to hear from you.

As you know, on May 19, 2010, the Ways and Means Committee held a hearing to discuss scenarios for instituting a Federal tax on Internet gambling. During the hearing, Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA) testified about legislation he introduced, H.R. 4976, which outlines a tax regime assuming the legalization and regulation of Internet gambling.

While I recognize your interest in regulating Internet gambling activity, I have concerns that Congress is getting ahead of itself on this issue. Only four years ago, the House overwhelmingly passed, by a 317-93 margin, a bill that later became law to prohibit banks from completing unlawful Internet gambling transactions. Since so many questions remain about whether or not Internet gambling should be legal, I believe it is premature to explore ways to tax this activity that remains illegal. Furthermore, it is my belief that policies should be adopted when they embody positive public outcomes. In this instance, I fear that regulation may be expedited in a rush to generate more revenue to spend recklessly.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to call on me in the future if I may be of assistance. John Linder

Only four years ago, the House overwhelmingly passed, by a 317-93 margin, a bill that later became law to prohibit banks from completing unlawful Internet gambling transactions.

Politics is such BS. How can he even write something like this when he knows the vote on that bill was for Port Security and that the internet gambling was just a throw in.

[MXRider]

did you send a response of such a nature? I'd love to hear his reply to that.

[mchilger]

yes- we'll see what he says.

Matthew