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Yet another conservative group has come forward to express its opposition to online gambling prohibition introduced by Utah Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz last week. The legislation is heavily backed by GOP mega donor and casino magnate Sheldon Adelson.
American Conservative Union (ACU) Executive Director Dan Schneider released this statement regarding the Restoration of America’s Wire Act (RAWA):
“Jason Chaffetz is a good conservative with an American Conservative Union lifetime rating of 94 percent. However, we are disappointed that on this issue he is taking the side of big government. Conservatives don’t have to agree on the value of gambling, but we should agree that it is unwise to use the brute force of the federal government to try to stop states from making their own decisions on this activity, especially if the reason for this action is to support gambling entrepreneurs in Las Vegas. Unfortunately for them, what happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas; it should be up to the states to determine if they want to reject or accept Vegas.”
The ACU trusts governors, including the 31 Republicans, to set the gambling regulations in each state; whether that is prohibition or regulation. The federal government does have a role in legitimate law enforcement matters, but it should not take on the added responsibility of overriding a state’s inherent police powers. Indeed, Congress already has expressly supported the rights of each state with this activity in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 where the fundamental principle of states’ rights was preserved.”
Last week, the Campaign for Liberty issued a statement just hours after Chaffetz introduced RAWA.
“Some in the GOP must think the American people are stupid. After successfully selling the American people on taking the United States in a new direction, members of the GOP think one of its first legislative priorities should be to limit economic freedom, impose top-down federal regulations, and expand the surveillance state,” said C4L President John Tate.
“This is not just an issue that should concern those who like to gamble, but all Americans who value state sovereignty, free markets, and a free and open Internet.
“I urge Campaign for Liberty members and all Americans who value Internet freedom and free markets, even if they don’t gamble, to contact their legislators and tell them to oppose the ‘Restoration of America’s Wire Act.’”
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
