Tea Party Conservatives Support Efforts to Quash UIGEA

The battle over Barney Frank\’s HR 2267 is heating up, and he seems to have found allies in sensible albeit unusual places. Specifically, supporting efforts to dismantle – or at least rebuke and revise – the UIGEA are the Heartland Institute, Americans for Tax Reform, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, and Dick Armey\’s FreedomWorks.

A letter they all sent to Congressional members yesterday:

July 25, 2010

Dear Member:

In the next few days, you will consider legislation that would modify the regulation of Internet gambling. We have a variety of opinions about the specifics of the bill but, as representatives and employees free market organizations, we all strongly believe that the current government regulations intended to prohibit Internet gambling are destructive, burdensome, and unfair.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, and the Wire Act all need review and revision. The legislation you are about to consider about would make some necessary revisions particularly to the burdensome, silly, and destructive regulations contained within UIEGA.

Certainly, other approaches need to be tried. The ideas contained in the bill you are about to consider are certainly worth your careful consideration and attention.

Yours truly,

Eli Lehrer
Senior Fellow
The Heartland Institute

Grover Norqist
President
Americans for Tax Reform

Wayne Brough
Chief Economist
FreedomWorks

Michelle Minton
Director of Insurance Studies
Competitive Enterprise Institute