Poker Player Alliance takes the Fight Forward
Written by Matt W | Tuesday, October 21st, 2008
The Poker Player Alliance (PPA) has come up with an innovative way to influence the voters ahead of the November elections.
It has graded members of the American Congress, both House and Senate, based on their attitude to poker.
Thus poker players or others who feel that their government’s response 
to the interests of us poker is material enough in their choice can check out the grade their Senators and House Representatives have received from the PPA. Players from Kentucky might really want to stay tuned to this because they are recently being targeted and will be forced to play at Kentucky poker sites only.
The Chairman of the PPA, Senator Alfonse D’Amato has explained this system in his statement published on the web site of the PPA. D’Amato writes that since the inception of the UIGEA the PPA has met with most members of the U.S. Senate and House and not only ascertained their views but also put forward the associations views in the matter.
Predominant in the association’s views are that poker should be looked upon as a game of skill and not a game of chance and that Internet poker should be regulated and not banned. He points out that since the imposition of the UIGEA there have been nine pro poker bills introduced in the Congress. Based on these meetings, from co-sponsorship of bills, Congressional letters of support and public statements the PPA has devised a system of rating the Congress members on their poker stance. This has been compiled in what the PPA calls the PPA’s Official Congressional Rating Guide (congressionalpoker.org). D’Amato writes that the guide assigns grades from A+ to F- to every member of the U.S. House and Senate.
Those members who stance could not be assessed have not been given a grade. The lack of information has been indicated with a question mark. He adds, “Grades are not permanent and this guide will be updated periodically. Our goal is for all Members of Congress to score a grade of A or better.”
There are eight indicators in the rating system. “A+” denotes actively working to protect poker rights; “A” denotes supporter of online poker rights; “A-” denotes opposition to anti-poker legislation; B denotes a switch from an anti-poker stance to a pro-poker one; D denotes generally opposed to poker rights; “F” denotes opposed to online poker rights; “F-” denotes leader of anti-poker legislation and “?” denotes no information. The PPA Congressional Rating Guide database is searchable by state and by zip code.
PPA has always believed in contacting the elected representatives and letting them know ones views. Hence the guide permits citizens to e-mail their representatives using the links provided within the guide. Citizens can tell their representatives that they are aware of the representatives’ grades and also what they feel about these grades. D’Amato hopes that U.S. citizens will make use of this guide. He points out, “Knowing how your elected officials stand on the issues important to you is half the battle — letting them know that you’re a voter who supports poker takes care of the rest.”
The numbers currently read as follows: 13 in “A+”; 66 in “A”; 43 in “A-”; 42 in “B”; 98 in “D”; 153 in “F”; 6 in “F-” and 114 in “?”. Clearly as of now the odds are against the poker fraternity.
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· Written by Matt W · Filed Under Poker News · Comments Off
