BY TOM SOMACH

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the country’s largest lobbying group to legalize online poker, has issued a full report on the PPA’s visit last week to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to lobby Congress.

PPA Executive Director John Pappas, in a report posted on the PPA website (www.pokerplayersalliance.org), stated:

“From Oct. 22 to 24, nearly 100 PPA members, including some of the top professional poker players, converged on Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers and defended your right to play online poker. By all accounts, the Washington Fly-In and policy conference was a huge success and we made a significant impression on Congress and the media.

“In just two days of lobbying, the fly-in=9D participants met with nearly 50 members of the U.S. House and Senate. We were armed with the message that poker is a game of skill which should be regulated, not prohibited–and we successfully delivered that message. Several of our meetings resulted in commitments of support and co-sponsorship of (Congressional bills supporting online poker). We also garnered tremendous media attention for our cause, and through this effort we are showing Congress and the American people that there is a true and vocal and growing constituency that cares about poker.

“One of highlights of the conference was the Tuesday night reception on Capitol Hill. More than 150 staffers and PPA members gathered together in one room to talk poker. It was awesome! Even better, eight members of Congress attended the reception, including Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI), to show their support for the PPA. I have worked in Washington for a long time and I can tell you how difficult it is to get nembers of Congress to show up to these types of events. It is a testament to the many hours the PPA has spent building our credibility with lawmakers.

“Our Wednesday policy forum, entitled ‘Poker: Public Policy, Politics, Skill and the Future of an American Tradition,’ =9D was equally a success. With Howard Lederer, professor Charles Nesson, Radley Balko and Kenneth Adams leading the discussion, the PPA took a serious look at the political future of poker. The consensus? Poker players must become politically aware, register to vote and make their voices heard in debates and elections.

“Overall, the three days in Washington were well spent and we really upped the ante in our fight for regulating online poker and getting federal support for our game of skill. On behalf of our chairman, Sen. Alfonse D’Amato, I want to thank the dedicated PPA members and PPA state representatives who joined us in Washington. Without you, this could not have been accomplished. Sen. D’Amato has always said that our membership is our strongest voice in Washington and this week you really proved it!

“Let’s keep the momentum moving in the right direction. Please use our member tools to make your voice heard–write, call or set up your own meeting with your member of Congress in your hometown.”

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)