http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002941027
GOP Platform Committee Drops Prohibition On Internet Gambling
<udrdocument documentid="2941027"> By Kathleen Hunter and Bart Jansen, CQ Staff
MINNEAPOLIS — The Republican Platform Committee stripped a prohibition of Internet gambling from its draft platform, as part of an effort to appeal to the broadest possible constituency.
The passage had been a part of the last two platforms, and was opposed by virtual poker players. Contentious provisions could still be added by amendment to the platform.
“We can use this to make the tent bigger,” Sen. Richard M. Burr , R-N.C., and co-chairman of the platform committee, said of the compressed document.
The draft’s shortening from nearly 100 pages represents a victory for the Poker Players Alliance, a group that has lobbied to legalize and regulate Internet gambling. The million-member group has spent $1.2 million during the first half of 2008 and members have contributed more than $350,000 to candidates this election year.
“This is a small victory in our determined effort to educate both sides of the aisle that there is a true constituency in America that values its Internet freedoms,” said John Pappas, the alliance’s executive director.
But while prominent Democrats have sponsored legislation to regulate Internet gambling, Republicans have led opposition that kept the bills bottled up in subcommittee.
Poker players filed Internet comments urging Republicans to drop their platform opposition to virtual gambling.
“My point is simple. Is the Republican Party no longer the party of personal freedom and individual responsibility?” wrote Greg Raymer, a professional player who won the 2004 World Series of Poker. “Why has this party, that used to protect my rights, now become the party that wants to create a Nanny-state?”
The Republican platforms of 2000 and 2004 each included the following language: “Millions of Americans suffer from problem or pathological gambling that can destroy families. We support legislation prohibiting gambling over the Internet or in student athletics by student athletes who are participating in competitive sports.”
But the latest draft released Tuesday dropped the language. Burr said the Internet gambling provision was one of several smaller-ticket items left on the cutting-room floor.
“We firmly believe that if this is a big enough issue, it would be offered as an amendment,” Burr said.
The 112-member platform committee is slated to hammer out the platform Tuesday and Wednesday so that the document can be adopted by delegates on Sept. 1 — the opening day of the Republican National Convention in neighboring St. Paul.
“We’ll wait to see if it comes up as we get to full committee,” Burr said.
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GOP Platform Committee Drops Prohibition On Internet Gambling
<udrdocument documentid="2941027"> By Kathleen Hunter and Bart Jansen, CQ Staff
MINNEAPOLIS — The Republican Platform Committee stripped a prohibition of Internet gambling from its draft platform, as part of an effort to appeal to the broadest possible constituency.
The passage had been a part of the last two platforms, and was opposed by virtual poker players. Contentious provisions could still be added by amendment to the platform.
“We can use this to make the tent bigger,” Sen. Richard M. Burr , R-N.C., and co-chairman of the platform committee, said of the compressed document.
The draft’s shortening from nearly 100 pages represents a victory for the Poker Players Alliance, a group that has lobbied to legalize and regulate Internet gambling. The million-member group has spent $1.2 million during the first half of 2008 and members have contributed more than $350,000 to candidates this election year.
“This is a small victory in our determined effort to educate both sides of the aisle that there is a true constituency in America that values its Internet freedoms,” said John Pappas, the alliance’s executive director.
But while prominent Democrats have sponsored legislation to regulate Internet gambling, Republicans have led opposition that kept the bills bottled up in subcommittee.
Poker players filed Internet comments urging Republicans to drop their platform opposition to virtual gambling.
“My point is simple. Is the Republican Party no longer the party of personal freedom and individual responsibility?” wrote Greg Raymer, a professional player who won the 2004 World Series of Poker. “Why has this party, that used to protect my rights, now become the party that wants to create a Nanny-state?”
The Republican platforms of 2000 and 2004 each included the following language: “Millions of Americans suffer from problem or pathological gambling that can destroy families. We support legislation prohibiting gambling over the Internet or in student athletics by student athletes who are participating in competitive sports.”
But the latest draft released Tuesday dropped the language. Burr said the Internet gambling provision was one of several smaller-ticket items left on the cutting-room floor.
“We firmly believe that if this is a big enough issue, it would be offered as an amendment,” Burr said.
The 112-member platform committee is slated to hammer out the platform Tuesday and Wednesday so that the document can be adopted by delegates on Sept. 1 — the opening day of the Republican National Convention in neighboring St. Paul.
“We’ll wait to see if it comes up as we get to full committee,” Burr said.
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