US lawmaker renews push against Internet gambling

[deadparrot]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Virginia Rep. Bob Goodlatte (news, bio, voting record) will reintroduce a bill this week that would prohibit Internet gambling, a fast-growing industry valued at about $12 billion, a spokeswoman for Goodlatte said on Tuesday.

Goodlatte, a Republican, first introduced legislation to ban online gambling nearly a decade ago. In 2000, his bill had strong support in the House but was unexpectedly defeated due in part to efforts by Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who represented gambling interests, according to the spokeswoman.

Abramoff pleaded guilty to fraud charges in early January and is cooperating with prosecutors in a corruption probe that could implicate lawmakers and officials across Washington.

The previous version of Goodlatte's bill would make it illegal to use the Internet for gambling and give law enforcement officials the authority to stop credit card payments to offshore Internet gambling sites.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060214/pl_nm/gambling_congress_dc

[bemildred]

1. I am sure glad this halfwit has something to occupy his mind with.

God knows what would happen if he got near the tax code or foreign policy.