Two more Representatives stepped as much as co-sponsor Barney Frank's online gambling regulatory bill, bringing the whole to sixty-one.

Barney Frank's bill to manage and license online gambling sites would possibly not have reached committee as quickly as hoped, however the lengthy delay has allowed various supporters to step up and announce themselves. This week, the choice of official sponsors at the bill grew to 61, with the addition of Representative Peter Welch of Vermont.

Earlier within the week, Representative John Larson of Connecticut had also attached his name to Frank's cause.

Co-sponsors don't seem to be necessary for passage of a bill. Representatives may vote for or against an offer with none prior declaration, but sponsoring a bill allows a Congressman to turn his constituency where his allegiance lies, a valuable tool when running for re-election.

Frank has promised repeatedly to bring the bill into discussion before Congress adjourns for the year, but several self-set deadlines was missed because the economic crisis and resulting legislation continue to occupy Frank's Financial Services Committee. The delay raises the significance of Frank's second bill, seeking a year-long suspension of the implementation of the UIGEA.

Recently, Frank and 20 other Congressmen wrote the dept of the Treasury, seeking that it use administrative powers available to it to carry off at the UIGEA introduction, scheduled for December 1st. A number of the points raised were that the problem likely faces legislative changes, making the implementation both problematic and temporary, at best.

Published on October 17, 2009 by A.J.Maldonado

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