Where Do Your Congressional Representatives Stand on Poker?

The Poker Players Alliance has been collecting and analyzing information about congressional support for poker and has produced a Congressional Rating Guide that you can access online, at http://www.congressionalpoker.org/. Every member of the US House and Senate is graded from "A+" to "F-" based on their position on poker. A question mark is given when a position could not be determined for a Congressional member.

Grades are not permanent and the PPA plans to update this guide periodically. The guide is searchable by state and by zip code. Once on the site, you can automatically send email to your Senator or Representative to voice your support for America's favorite card game-poker.

Support for poker is not an issue that conforms to party lines, and you'll find members with high and low grades in each party. I'm a Californian. Both of my senators, Democrats Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, received failing grades. Senator Boxer graded out at "F," while Senator Feinstein fell to the bottom of the barrel with a grade of "F-." At the other end of the spectrum, California Representative Linda Sanchez achieved the highest possible grade of "A+."

There's inconsistency even within families. Florida Republican Representative Connie Mack graded out at an "A," while his wife, California Republican Representative Mary Bono, only managed a "D." Rhode Island Democratic Representative Patrick Kennedy received an "A-," while Massachusetts Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy was a mere "?" in the ratings.

The State of Nevada is a bit schizophrenic on this issue too. Republican Senator John Ensign and Democratic Senator Harry Reid each received an "F," Republican Representatives John Porter and Dean Heller earned "A" grades, while Democratic Representative Shelley Berkley was awarded the highest possible grade, an "A+." Even within the same state, even where gambling is the state's economic engine, there's no consistency around party lines.

In case you're wondering where our Presidential candidates stand on the issue, it's clear as mud. Both Senator McCain and Senator Obama received a "?" on their score cards, indicating that they haven't taken a public position about poker.

So who are poker's true champions among your elected leaders? Thirteen received an "A+," and are deserving of your support.

Representative Linda Sanchez, (D-CA)
Representative Robert Wexler, (D-FL)
Representative Barney Frank, (D-MA)
Representative John Conyers, (D-MI)
Representative Shelley Berkley, (D-NV)
Senator Robert Menendez, (D-NJ)
Representative Peter King, (R-NY)
Representative Melvin Watt, (D-NC)
Representative Stephen Cohen, (D-TN)
Representative Pete Sessions, (R-TX)
Representative Ron Paul, (R-TX)
Representative Robert Scott (D-VA)
Representative Jim McDermott, (D-WA)

This baker's dozen comprises poker's best friends and most ardent supporters in Congress, and are actively working to protect your poker rights. Sixty-six others received an "A," and earned this rating by signing on as a cosponsor of HR 2046, HR 2610, supported HR 5767 and/or HR 6870, and supporting licensing and regulation of Internet poker.

On the downside, 153 members of Congress graded out at "F" or "F-," signifying that they cosponsored anti-Internet gaming legislation or made strong public statements against it. To grade out at the truly abysmal "F-" they had to be known as an anti-poker extremist, and a leader of legislative efforts to take away our rights to play poker when and how we choose.

One-hundred fourteen members received the "?" grade. If that seems high, it's because very little action has occurred in the Senate since UIGEA became law. As a result, many senators have not taken a position. Although two votes took place in the House Financial Services Committee, the full House has not voted on pro-poker bills. We urge you to go online and check out this website and see where your representatives stand on the issues that affect poker. As poker players, this is one hand that we're all in together, and we need to act as one to win.

Visit Lou Krieger online and check out all his books at www.loukrieger.com. You can read his blog at http://loukrieger.blogspot.com and write directly to him at loukrieger@aol.com.