H.R 4411 Update

Internet News reports that H.R. 4411, which would invade your financial privacy and censor the internet in a probably futile attempt to crack down on internet gambling, is a priority for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tn.):

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist targeted a ban on Internet gambling as a top priority for the U.S. Senate in the waning days of the 109th Congress.

With little more than 20 working days left before the November mid-term elections, the Senate faces a crowded agenda including 13 different funding bills to keep the government functioning when its new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have a tentative Oct. 9 adjournment date.

(entire article here, links via Dispatches from the Culture Wars and The Agitator)

At The Agitator, Radley Balko writes of congressional Republicans, "These buffoons really do want to control every facet of your life. I hope they get absolutely slaughtered come November."

Ed Brayton of Dispatches from the Culture Wars comments: "Great idea. Let's take away people's rights and extend governmental authority, and let's not even debate it, just slide it in under the door." In another post, Mr. Brayton writes:

I've reached the point where, for the first time in my life, I'm ready to vote for one of the major parties. I'm thinking seriously about voting Democratic this fall and in 2008, regardless of who is actually running, simply because the constituent groups that the Democrats have to please are less frightening to me than the constituent groups the Republicans have to please.

I couldn't agree more with Mr. Balko and Mr. Brayton. If you haven't already done so, please take a few minutes today to contact your U.S. senators and urge them to oppose H.R. 4411. The Poker Players Alliance makes it easy, providing a sample letter and easy access to your senators' contact information.