Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass) is one of the biggest allies of the online poker world. He’s introduced several pieces of legislation favorable to the industry, including HR 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act. Frank, along with every other member of the United States House of Representatives, was up for re-election on Tuesday night along with one-third of the Senate. Let’s take a look at the election results on a night that saw Democratic Senator from Illinois Barack Obama become the first African-American to be elected President of the United States.
Frank represents the Fourth Congressional District of Massachusetts and won his battle against Republican challenger Earl Sholley in a landslide. The final tally saw Frank pull away 68% to 25%, according to election results found on Yahoo.com. More recently, Frank introduced HR 6870, the Payments System Protection Act. HR 6870 was approved by the House Financial Services Committee, of which Frank is its Chair, but has not yet been discussed on the House floor.
The first version of the Payments System Protection Act was HR 5767. Although it was ultimately defeated in Committee, its bipartisan coalition may set the online poker industry up for success in the future. Frank introduced HR 5767 in conjunction with Republican Congressman Ron Paul. Paul, who represents the 14th Congressional District of Texas, ran unopposed. An amendment to HR 5767 was introduced by another Republican, Peter King, who was re-elected on Tuesday night by voters in the Third Congressional District of New York. He defeated Democratic challenger Graham Long by a count of 64% to 36%.
Two internet gambling study bills have been introduced in past Congresses by Shelley Berkley, a Democrat, and Jon Porter, a Republican. HR 2140 is Berkley’s current version. It was nearly discussed in Committee in July in the House Judiciary Committee and will have to be reintroduced in January if it is not acted upon before the end of the year. Berkley was returned to Washington by voters in the First Congressional District of Nevada, beating Kenneth Wagner by a 67% to 28% margin. Porter was defeated by Democrat Dina Titus by a 47% to 42% edge.
Congressman Robert Wexler (D-Fla), who famously gave the “Shuffle up and deal” command during Day 1D of the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event, has introduced HR 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act. Wexler represents the 19th Congressional District of Florida and emerged victorious 66% to 27% over Republican challenger Edward Lynch. Ben Graber, a third-party candidate, received 6% of the vote in the race.
Congressman Jim McDermott has introduced several tax-related measures that serve as pieces of companion legislation to Frank’s HR 2046. The most recent bill, HR 6501, prescribes up to $40 billion in the 10 years following its passage to those who are in foster care or declining job markets for job training and educational purposes.
Congressman Pete Sessions (R-Tex), who represents the 32nd Congressional District of Texas, defeated Democratic challenger Eric Roberson by a 57% to 40% margin. Sessions has introduced HR 6663, which directed the Attorney General’s office to enforce the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act by taking aim at online sports books only. These would become against the law if HR 6663 were passed.
Other members of the House of Representatives who sought re-election on Tuesday night, along with their grades according to the Poker Players Alliance Congressional Guide, where A+ is the best possible grade and F- is the worst, were as follows:
Bob Goodlatte (R-Va) – F-
Defeated Sam Rasoul 61% to 36%
Spencer Bachus (R-Ala) – F-
Ran Unopposed
Linda Sanchez (D-Cali) – A+
Defeated Diane Lenning 70% to 30%
John Conyers (D-Mich) – A+
Defeated two independent candidates 92% to 8%
Melvin Watt (D-NC) – A+
Defeated Ty Cobb 71% to 28%
Steve Cohen (D-Tenn) – A+
Defeated three independent candidates 88% to 12%
Bobby Scott (D-Va) – A+
Ran Unopposed
