The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million members nationwide, released its 2010 Congressional Ratings Guide this week. The guide provides ratings for every member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate on their stances on poker issues.
According to PPA Chairman and former Senator Alfonse D’Amato, the ratings guide is based on (1) co-sponsorship of pro-poker legislation, (2) votes for or against pro-poker legislation in the House Financial Services Committee and in the full House, (3) letters sent on behalf of or against poker players’ rights, and (4) public statements, constituent letters, or actions for or against poker players’ rights. Each member of Congress is graded based on the sum of their actions in each category.
As an indication of the effectiveness of the education and advocacy efforts of the PPA and its members, only 194 members of Congress scored a “D” or an “F” – failing in their support of poker – as opposed to almost half of members, 258, who received a “D” or “F” in 2008. This year, 91 members of Congress were rated an “A” for their strong support for poker freedom.
“The poker community has made tremendous progress over the past two years in educating members of Congress on the benefits of regulating online poker. The grades in our 2010 Congressional Ratings Guide indicate that progress, but also underscore that more needs to be done,” said D’Amato. “As we approach the mid-term elections, this guide is a valuable resource for PPA members – and all poker players in the country – as they choose to support candidates who support their right and freedom to play poker.”
Unlike past years, the PPA was able to rely more on voting records as a basis for the ratings. The lawmaking activity on poker legislation in the House of Representatives has increased rapidly over the past two years, generating more interest from the legislative body.
The ratings were released at a crucial time for online poker in the United States. Legislation that would regulate and legalize online poker in the United States (H.R. 2267) is awaiting further action and a possible vote in the House and Senate. Meanwhile, the entire House of Representatives is up for re-election in November and 37 of the 100 Senate seats will also be free for the taking. The ratings guide gives poker players a chance to see how their state representative stands on the issue of online poker before voting in November.
The PPA Congressional Rating Guide will be updated periodically and is searchable by state and by zip code. You can help the PPA rate members of Congress by contacting your elected officials directly and asking them where they stand.
