Here's a trick to be more effective. The reps won't let you write them an email unless you live in their district. It takes a couple minutes but google their district, find a town within it and then google some restaurant in that town and use it as your address. It works and many will reply back with their stance on online poker.

Rep. Howard Coble responded to us: http://www.facebook.com/HowardCoble6...20853754617890

How do I block seeing all these pages Ive liked? I have loads of news and govt officials posting on my wall even after sitting there and blocking a crapload of them.

Hmm, I think the Congressmen have been saying the same thing about all these poker posts.

But seriously, just look at what sajeffe said in post #739 in this thread. I just use the "Hide all posts by soandso" option.

I'm working on this, today (as J.K. Ludwig): http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...&postcount=710

Took the last couple of days off and will be taking a week or so off pretty soon.

I did the against and unknown/undecided people. Please like or post too.

H.R. 2366, the Online Poker Act, has been referred to three committees in the House: Energy and Commerce, Judiciary, and Financial Services. Let's Facebook them all!

The FOR/AGAINST/UNDECIDED/UNKNOWN after each name is based on H.R.1174, the Campbell/Frank online gaming bill. The names with an “x” in front of them are those who do not allow direct posting on their Facebook wall. No problem for us. Just post a comment in response to a post already on the page. PLEASE BE SENSITIVE about this though. If the post says the Congressperson is being treated for cancer, don’t bother them with poker. Tell them to get well soon. Be sensitive to what’s going on in their state, too – wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, etc. And PLEASE say please and thank you. Courtesy goes a long way.

Oh, and let’s all try to get the bill number correct. It’s H.R. 2366.

Let's all also remember to revisit these walls to like the posts and comments made since your last visit. Thanks!


For

Joe Barton, TX Facebook Contact THE MAN
x Peter T. King, NY Facebook Contact CO-SPONSOR
x John Campbell, CA Facebook Contact CO-SPONSOR
Steve Cohen, TN Facebook Facebook Contact CO-SPONSOR
x Ron Paul, TX Facebook Facebook Facebook Contact CO-SPONSOR
x Barney Frank, MA Facebook Contact CO-SPONSOR
John Conyers, Jr., MI Facebook Facebook Contact CO-SPONSOR
Linda Sanchez CA Facebook Facebook Contact CO-SPONSOR
Michael E. Capuano, MA Facebook Contact
Judy Biggert, IL Facebook Contact
Maxine Waters, CA Facebook Contact
Al Green, TX Facebook Contact
Gwen Moore, WI Facebook Contact
André Carson, IN Facebook Facebook Contact
John D. Dingell MI Facebook Facebook Contact
x Edward J. Markey, MA Facebook Facebook Contact
Edolphus Towns, NY Facebook Contact
William Lacy Clay, MO Facebook Contact
x Ed Perlmutter, CO Facebook Contact
Bobby L. Rush, IL Facebook Contact
Eliot L. Engel, NY Facebook Contact
Lois Capps, CA Facebook Facebook Contact
Jay Inslee, WA Facebook Facebook Contact
Tammy Baldwin, WI Facebook Facebook Contact
Doris O. Matsui, CA Facebook Contact
Marsha Blackburn, TN Facebook Facebook Contact
Leonard Lance, NJ Facebook Contact
Darrell Issa, CA Facebook Facebook Facebook Contact
Howard L. Berman, CA Facebook Contact
Bobby Scott, VA Facebook Contact
x Sheila Jackson Lee, TX Facebook Facebook Contact
x Henry (Hank) Johnson, GA Facebook Contact
Ted Deutch, FL Facebook Contact
Fred Upton, MI Facebook Facebook Contact
Jerrold Nadler, NY Facebook Facebook Contact
Mel Watt, NC Facebook Contact
Michael G. Grimm, NY Facebook Facebook Contact

Against

x Spencer Bachus, AL Facebook Contact
Edward R. Royce, CA Facebook Contact
Donald A. Manzullo, IL Facebook Contact
Walter B. Jones, NC Facebook Contact
Scott Garrett, NJ Facebook Contact
Randy Neugebauer, TX Facebook Contact
Patrick T. McHenry, NC Facebook Contact
Shelley Moore Capito, WV Facebook Contact
Michele Bachmann, MN Facebook Facebook Contact
Joe Baca, CA Facebook Contact
David Scott, GA Facebook Contact
x Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ Facebook Contact
Gene Green, TX Facebook Contact
Diana DeGette, CO Facebook Contact
x Jim Matheson, UT Facebook Contact
G. K. Butterfield, NC Facebook Contact
x John Barrow, GA Facebook Contact
Mike Ross, AR Facebook Contact
Cliff Stearns, FL Facebook Contact
x Ed Whitfield, KY Facebook Contact
John Shimkus, IL Facebook Contact
Joseph R. Pitts, PA Facebook Contact
x Mary Bono Mack, CA Facebook Contact
Greg Walden, OR Facebook Contact
x Lee Terry, NE Facebook Contact
x Mike Rogers, MI Facebook Contact
Sue Myrick, NC Facebook Contact
John Sullivan, OK Facebook Contact
Tim Murphy, PA Facebook Contact
Michael Burgess, TX Facebook Contact
x Brian P. Bilbray, CA Facebook Contact
x Phil Gingrey, GA Facebook Contact
Cathy McMorris Rodgers, WA Facebook Contact
Lamar Smith, TX Facebook Contact
F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., WI Facebook Contact
Howard Coble, NC Facebook Contact
x Elton Gallegly, CA Facebook Contact
x Bob Goodlatte, VA Facebook Contact
Dan Lungren, CA Facebook Contact
x Randy Forbes, VA Facebook Contact
x Steve King, IA Facebook Contact
Trent Franks, AZ Facebook Contact
Louie Gohmert, TX Facebook Contact
Jim Jordan, OH Facebook Contact
Mike Pence, IN Facebook Contact
Jason Chaffetz, UT Facebook Contact

Undecided/Unknown

x Jeb Hensarling, TX Facebook Contact
x Frank D. Lucas, OK Facebook Contact
x Gary G. Miller, CA Facebook Contact
x Thaddeus G. McCotter, MI Facebook Contact
x Kevin McCarthy, CA Facebook Contact
Bill Posey, FL Facebook Contact
x Michael G. Fitzpatrick, PA Facebook Contact
x Lynn A. Westmoreland, GA Facebook Contact
Blaine Luetkemeyer, MO Facebook Contact
Bill Huizenga, MI Facebook Contact
x Sean P. Duffy, WI Facebook Contact
Nan Hayworth, M.D., NY Facebook Contact
James B. Renacci, OH Facebook Contact
Robert Hurt, VA Facebook Contact
Robert J. Dold, IL Facebook Contact
x David Schweikert, AZ Facebook Contact
Francisco "Quico" Canseco, TX Facebook Contact
Steve Stivers, OH Facebook Contact
x Stephen Lee Fincher, TN Facebook Contact
x Luis V. Gutierrez, IL Facebook Contact
x Nydia M. Velázquez, NY Facebook Contact
x Gary L. Ackerman, NY Facebook Contact
x Brad Sherman, CA Facebook Contact
x Rubén Hinojosa, TX Facebook Contact
x Carolyn McCarthy, NY Facebook Contact
Stephen F. Lynch, MA Facebook Contact
x Brad Miller, NC Facebook Contact
x Emanuel Cleaver, MO Facebook Contact
x Keith Ellison, MN Facebook Contact
Joe Donnelly, IN Facebook Contact
x James A. Himes, CT Facebook Contact
x Gary C. Peters, MI Facebook Contact
x John C. Carney, Jr., DE Facebook Facebook Contact
x Michael F. Doyle, PA Facebook Contact
Jan Schakowsky, IL Facebook Contact
x Charles A. Gonzalez, TX Facebook Contact
Donna Christensen, VI Facebook Contact
Kathy Castor, FL Facebook Contact
Charles F. Bass, NH Facebook Contact
Steve Scalise, LA Facebook Contact
Bob Latta, OH Facebook Contact
Gregg Harper, MS Facebook Contact
Bill Cassidy, LA Facebook Contact
x Brett Guthrie, KY Facebook Contact
x Pete Olson, TX Facebook Contact
David McKinley, WV Facebook Contact
Cory Gardner, CO Facebook Contact
x Mike Pompeo, KS Facebook Contact
x Adam Kinzinger, IL Facebook Contact
Morgan Griffith, VA Facebook Contact
Steve Chabot, OH Facebook Contact
Ted Poe, TX Facebook Contact
x Tim Griffin, AR Facebook Contact
x Sandy Adams, FL Facebook Contact
x Ben Quayle, AZ Facebook Contact
x Zoe Lofgren, CA Facebook Contact
Pedro Pierluisi, PR Facebook Contact
Mike Quigley, IL Facebook Contact
Judy Chu, CA Facebook Contact
Anna G. Eshoo, CA Facebook Contact
Tom Marino, PA Facebook Contact
Trey Gowdy, SC Facebook Contact
Dennis Ross, FL Facebook Contact
Stevan Pearce, NM Facebook Contact
Henry A. Waxman, CA NO FACEBOOK Contact
Gregory W. Meeks, NY NO FACEBOOK Contact
Carolyn B. Maloney, NY NO FACEBOOK Contact

Let's call the Justice Department and share with them the fact that players at Full Tilt Poker, UB, and Absolute have not been paid, this despite the sites signing agreements with the DoJ allowing them to do so.

Some contact info:

• Department of Justice Main Switchboard: (202) 514-2000
• Office of the Attorney General Public Comment Line: (202) 353-1555
• Office of the Attorney General: (202) 514-2001
• Jim Eastman: (239) 745-5919 (anti-player Eastman comment)
• The Dept. of Justice's Facebook page is here.

The DoJ testified to Congress their opinion that Americans are not breaking federal law in playing (they believe sites themselves are not lawful, though): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTvd8...outu.be&t=2m8s.

Let's hit them up for a couple of days and make our case.

Some tips:

• If you do not wish to identify yourself as a poker player, perhaps refer to yourself as a "poker enthusiast" or something like that.
• If you wish to state that you have a balance locked up on a site but prefer not to mention that you have played the game online for money, simply do not volunteer the extra information. State that you have money locked up on a site and leave it at that.
• I am not a lawyer, so please do not construe any of this as legal advice.

Thanks!

Ed Bishop on facebook, you're not doing us any favors by being a dumbass on the Department of Justice facebook page.

Rep. Paul is a strong supporter of our right to play, as is former Gov. Gary Johnson. Both enjoy a great deal of support here.

The Jim Eastman number gives a disconnected message.

I also called the main switchboard and asked how to get my full tilt money, and the operator referred me to the computer crimes division at 1-202-514-1026.

Let's finish up calling the Justice Department and share with them the fact that players at Full Tilt Poker, UB, and Absolute have not been paid, this despite the sites signing agreements with the DoJ allowing them to do so.

Some contact info:

• Department of Justice Main Switchboard: (202) 514-2000
• Office of the Attorney General Public Comment Line: (202) 353-1555
• Office of the Attorney General: (202) 514-2001
• Jim Eastman: (239) 745-5919 (anti-player Eastman comment)
• The Dept. of Justice's Facebook page is here.

The DoJ testified to Congress their opinion that Americans are not breaking federal law in playing (they believe sites themselves are not lawful, though): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTvd8...outu.be&t=2m8s.

Let's hit them up for a couple of days and make our case.

Some tips:

• If you do not wish to identify yourself as a poker player, perhaps refer to yourself as a "poker enthusiast" or something like that.
• If you wish to state that you have a balance locked up on a site but prefer not to mention that you have played the game online for money, simply do not volunteer the extra information. State that you have money locked up on a site and leave it at that.
• I am not a lawyer, so please do not construe any of this as legal advice.

Thanks!

Let's get back to Facebook, focusing on lawmakers in individual states. I'd like to start with Kentucky.

We have really seem a big change here. When UIGEA passed, most of the KY delegation supported it. A mere three years later, the entire KY House delegation, plus Sen. McConnell, signed a PPA-drafted letter requesting a delay in implementation of the UIGEA regulations. The delay letter was based on concerns of the horse industry, but it was great for us to have the cooperation.

The two senators from Kentucky:

Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R]*: http://www.facebook.com/mitchmcconne...03435599705980

Sen. Paul, Rand [R]*: http://www.facebook.com/RandPaul2010...24835400939930


The Commonwealth is divided into 6 congressional districts:

District 1 -- Rep. Whitfield, Edward [R]*: http://www.facebook.com/RepEdWhitfie...65797763492512 (comments with with word "poker" are hidden on this page, so let's simply refer to the game as a card game here).

District 2 -- Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R]*: http://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...id=21836146886 (comments with links are hidden on this page, so let's not include links in comments here).

District 3 -- Rep. Yarmuth, John [D]: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Congre...3/214258646163 (posts with with word "poker" are hidden on this page, so let's simply refer to the game as a card game here).

District 4 -- Rep. Davis, Geoff [R]: http://www.facebook.com/GeoffDavisfo...=wall&filter=1

District 5 -- Rep. Rogers, Harold [R]: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Harold-Rogers/6722039085

District 6 -- Rep. Chandler, Ben [D]*: http://www.facebook.com/congressmanb...87744474618184 (comments with links are hidden on this page, so let's not include links in comments here)

* Does not allow open posting. For these, I posted a link to an existing post to which we can make pro-poker comments.

Rep. Barton has cited our Facebook posts, so we know it works.

Next, let's all go to POPVOX and vote up the two poker bills:

• www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr1174
• www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr2366

Thanks!

The ppa should hire a telemarketing company to frequently call/email these political dudes imo

LOL.

It doesn't work that way, of course. It's up to us to tell Congress what we demand.

Let's wrap up the Kentucky Facebook effort. We need more participation on this one, so please try to take a few moments to stand up for the right to play today. Thanks!

We have really seem a big change here. When UIGEA passed, most of the KY delegation supported it. A mere three years later, the entire KY House delegation, plus Sen. McConnell, signed a PPA-drafted letter requesting a delay in implementation of the UIGEA regulations. The delay letter was based on concerns of the horse industry, but it was great for us to have the cooperation.

The two senators from Kentucky:

Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R]*: http://www.facebook.com/mitchmcconne...03435599705980

Sen. Paul, Rand [R]*: http://www.facebook.com/RandPaul2010...24835400939930


The Commonwealth is divided into 6 congressional districts:

District 1 -- Rep. Whitfield, Edward [R]*: http://www.facebook.com/RepEdWhitfie...65797763492512 (comments with with word "poker" are hidden on this page, so let's simply refer to the game as a card game here).

District 2 -- Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R]*: http://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...id=21836146886 (comments with links are hidden on this page, so let's not include links in comments here).

District 3 -- Rep. Yarmuth, John [D]: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Congre...3/214258646163 (posts with with word "poker" are hidden on this page, so let's simply refer to the game as a card game here).

District 4 -- Rep. Davis, Geoff [R]: http://www.facebook.com/GeoffDavisfo...=wall&filter=1

District 5 -- Rep. Rogers, Harold [R]: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Harold-Rogers/6722039085

District 6 -- Rep. Chandler, Ben [D]*: http://www.facebook.com/congressmanb...87744474618184 (comments with links are hidden on this page, so let's not include links in comments here)

* Does not allow open posting. For these, I posted a link to an existing post to which we can make pro-poker comments.

Rep. Barton has cited our Facebook posts, so we know it works.

Next, let's all go to POPVOX and vote up the two poker bills:

• www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr1174
• www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr2366

Thanks!

It's pretty interesting that a lot of the popvox comments in the "oppose" column don't actually oppose gambling. A lot of them oppose the bills because they are against more government regulations. This seems somewhat positive overall.

In a lot of my facebook posts I try to emphasize the potential tax revenue from having online poker in the U.S. Someone actually replied to me that they don't want that becuase more tax $ means a larger federal government. I replied back with "So you don't want the economy to grow at all? Because if it did the Gov't would have more money." I didn't hear back from him.

Should say it takes more government to prohibit an activity than it does to regulate it.

Is this true?

Sounds right, but it would be great to see some data on cost of prohibition vs regulation.

Let's continue participating in the PPA Take Action plan: www.theppa.org/takeaction.

In addition, let's all send the PPA letter to our elected representatives this weekend. Please do this regardless of when you send the last one.


Let's also continue to own a lot of Facebook pages (senators, congressmen, Congressional committees, etc.). We need lots of posts on the issue of poker and lots of "liking" of pro-poker comments:

• The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Facebook page is here.
• The House Financial Services Committee's Facebook page is here.
• The Dept. of Justice's Facebook page is here.

Thanks!

Suggestions:
1) put sajeffe in charge of the facebook posting and try to hit about 50 reps every 2-3 days. Monday-Tuesday 50 reps, Wednesday-Thursday 50 reps and Friday-Sunday 50 reps. That way we can cover all the reps on the 3 committees. Posting on facebook is probably one of the easiest things to do and seemed to have some success about 2 weeks ago.
2) don't post the facebook lists by saying you can find "The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Facebook page is here." I know it looks cleaner and it is only one more click to get to the lists, but I think more people would post if you listed all 50 reps you're supposed to hit.

Obviously, you could do this TE, but seems like you have enough stuff to do. If sajeffe doesn't want to do it I'll volunteer myself. I'm hopeful she want wants to do it though.

I have reposted some of Sajeffe's Facebook-related posts as action items. She did a nice job. We also had exactly what you describe here, with Congressmen divided by day.

I don't believe I've ever done this for an action item. Some have posted links like that ITT, but it was to share potential additional actions with others.

This is a team effort. Anyone with an idea for an action plan should post it here. I've cut-and-pasted these in the past and will whenever a good idea is posted. I hope everyone will post up good suggestions for future action items.

OK, I meant I think this should be an every day type thing. A couple weeks ago I'd leave my computer for a couple hours and I'd have 30 notifications when I came back. Now when I go back to post on reps walls I have one of the latest posts and it was from a couple days ago. It seemed to me we had a lot of posters active because it was quite simple and easy to do. I think we should get back to that. I think it would be easy to do on top of whatever else you have planned.

My mistake, I just looked at the latest DAP and thought it lead to a list of all the reps in that committee.