+PPA Fly-in
I just came back from one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. The Poker Players Alliance (www.pokerplayersalliance.org) organized a fly-in to Washington, DC to lobby members of congress to support Representative Barney Frank’s proposed legislation (HR 2046) and Representative Robert Wexler’s proposed legislation (HR 2610). Basically, HR 2046 allows for internet gambling to be legalized and regulated in the US. HR 2610 is a skill game carve out for the UIGEA. If lotteries, horse racing and fantasy sports are carved out of the UIGEA, Wexler argues that games of skill such as poker, bridge, Mahh-Jong and Backgammon should be as well. Makes sense to me.
Before the fly-in Wexler’s bill had about 16 co-sponsors and Frank’s about 39. Our job was to meet with members of congress to try to convince them to cosponsor the two bills. I still believe in the political process and I believe deeply that if I am going to complain about the erosion of our civil liberties under the current administration then I really ought to be trying to do something active to fight it. I got to meet with Rep. Wexler, Rep. Frank, Rep. Jim Moran, Rep. Linda Sanchez, Rep. Berman (my own congressman), Rep. Waxman, Rep. Larson, Rep. John Conyers, Rep. Bobby Scott, and Senator Patty Murray.
On Monday night I attened a fundraiser for Barney Frank who is not only the author of HR 2046 but is also the Chairman of the House Financial services Committee. He is from Massachusets (go Red Sox!). The next day I did an interview with the LA Times. The article was great but they ran a picture of me when I was 9 months pregnant from like 8 years go! Bleh. After the interview I met with Wexler, Sanchez, and Moran. Wexler is a big supporter of the cause, obviously. Sanchez is also a cosponsor and she sits on the Judiciary Committee. When I met with Jim Moran I found out a friend of his son’s had asked to call his grandaughter on the phone during the WSOP. Apparently she is a fan. I did that and turns out that was foruitous. Who knew I would be meeting with her Grandfather to try to effect change in the government a few months later? Anyway, the meeting with Moran went really well and I think we delivered some compelling arguments about the problems with the UIGEA. He seemed supportive of both Frank’s and Wexler’s bills.
During the day I got to know Toby Moffett some. He is a former Member from Connecticut and is working with the PPA on the cause. He is a fascinating guy and he and I really clicked. He was instrumental in teaching me the ropes, how to navigate Washington. It was so interesting to watch how he strategized meetings and dealt with delicate political issues. I learned a helluva a lot from watching him.
Tuesday night we all headed over to the National Democratic Club where we had a nice dinner and then settled in for some poker. The male aids and congressman hung out with Howard and Chris and Barry and Andy while I settled in with Linda Sanchez and some of the female congresswomen and aids. They got the better deal cause I gave them a pretty thorough preflop no limit hold’em lesson. I am expecting them to kick ass in some of the poker games around DC now.
It was pretty amazing for me to be in that room with all these Democratic movers and shakers. As a life long Democrat it felt a litle like a Mecca experience for me. The club was nice enough to gift me and Howard a key chain that is a Bush countdown clock which measures how long Bush will remain in office to the millisecond! That is pretty awesome.
On Wednesday I had lunch with Toby in the Members Dining Room after we met with Representative Larsen who is Vice Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. After lunch I headed off to meet with representative Berman, who is on the House Judiciary Committee and happens to be my congressman from LA. After that I met with Waxman and then with representative John Conyers who is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
All in all, I was busy from about 8 am till after midnight every day. But it was worth every single exhausting minute as I really felt like part of the process and just found so much passion about this issue. The UIGEA is not just about the rights of poker players but more broadly about what has happened in the last 7 years to erode our right to privacy and our civil liberties in general. Not only that but this administration has been consistent in snubbing its nose at global bodies like the UN and the WTO and the UIGEA and our stance on internet gaming has put us in direct violation of the general Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS). That is no small thing as Antigua and Barbuda have won several rounds on this issue with the WTO and we stand in direct violation right now. The US has chosen to withdraw support on this particular issue in relation to GATS and now we could be faced with 100 billion in trade sanctions since the EU is now seeking relief on this issue. Antigua and Barbuda alone are seeking 3.4 billion in trade sanctions in the form of copyright sanctions (they would be able to sell US IP). I am tired of this country snubbing its nose at the rest of the world.
Anyway, I will be back in DC on the 5th to testify in front of the House Judiciary Committee on the 6th. I am so deeply honored to be asked to do this and have the opportunity to speak and, hopefully, effect some change in Washington that might restore some of the rights that we so unceremoneously taken away from us last year. I am really looking forward to it.
Here is a link to some of the articles about the Fly-in: https://pokerplayersalliance.org/news/newsandarticles_article.php?DID=342
Check it out. The PPA is doing amazing work and even if you are not that interested in poker per se you should be interested in this issue as it has deeper implications about civil liberties, trade and the Judiciary.