Coalition Led by Center for Freedom and Prosperity Oppose RAWA in Letter to Congress
On Thursday, a coalition consisting of the Center for Freedom and Prosperity (CF&P) and 11 other organizations, including the Competitive Enterprise Institute and Taxpayers Protection Alliance, sent a letter to Congress opposing the Restoration of America's Wire Act (RAWA), which seeks to take away states' right to internet gaming.
"RAWA is an outright assault on federalism," reads the letter, which was addressed to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Robert Goodlatte. "The legislation tramples on the Tenth Amendment by banning state regulation of online gambling - further chipping away at the balance between state and federal governance. The bill would overturn state laws already on the books in three states and would prohibit states from selling lottery tickets online for their own constituents - rolling back at least another six state laws."
To read the letter in its entirety, click here.
H.R. 707 is contrary to the intent of the Tenth Amendment since it impinges on states' rights.
David Williams, President of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, echoed those sentiments: "The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) continues to oppose any federal ban of online gaming under RAWA. TPA is also proud to be a part of this coalition that has fought against a federal ban of online gaming and preserving a free-market approach. The federal government should not be dictating how states decide this issue nor should they be using this as a backdoor route for Internet regulations."
In addition to Williams, the coalition letter was signed by:
| Representative | Position | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew F. Quinlan | President | Center for Freedom and Prosperity |
| Michelle Minton | Fellow | Competitive Enterprise Institute |
| Thomas Schatz | President | Council for Citizens Against Government Waste |
| Dan Schneider | Executive Director | The American Conservative Union |
| Seton Motley | President | Less Government |
| Andrew Moylan | Executive Director | R Street Institute |
| Carrie Lukas | Managing Director | Independent Women's Forum |
| Norm Singleton | Senior Vice President | Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty |
| Heather R. Higgins | President | Independent Women's Voice |
| Bob Bauman | Chairman | Sovereign Society Freedom Alliance |
| Jeffrey Mazzella | President | Center for Individual Freedom |
| David Williams | President | Taxpayers Protection Alliance |
"H.R. 707, the Restoration of America's Wire Act (RAWA) does not restore anything, since the Wire Act has functioned properly since its enactment in 1961," said Thomas Schatz, President of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste. "Instead, RAWA expands the Wire Act's coverage to include all forms of gambling or betting, including Internet gambling. H.R. 707 is contrary to the intent of the Tenth Amendment since it impinges on states' rights by banning a state's ability to regulate online gambling within its borders and potentially forcing some states to abandon existing gambling laws."
PokerNews will bring you updates on RAWA as they develop.
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