The long-awaited hearing related to the “Restoration of America’s Wire Act”, also known as RAWA, was supposed to take place tomorrow but according to the latest information, it has been postponed for an indefinite period of time.
What made RAWA officials suspend the hearing were the severe weather conditions in Washington.
Weathermen kept warning the residents that they have to be prepared for bad weather, heavy snow and temperatures of -11ºC/12ºF. That is why the decision about postponing the RAWA hearing was made.
Proponents of the online gambling legislation are afraid that the suspension of the hearing might give its opponents more time for convincing the communities that they have to support their idea.
The decision for postponing the hearing was made suddenly and the members of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations have not managed to announce the new date for the hearing to take place.
However, people with knowledge on the matter suspected that Jason Chaffetz, the author of the Bill that was to be discussed, would like the hearing to take place as soon as possible.
Apart from his desire to have this issue promptly solved, Mr. Chaffetz is believed to be driven by another reason. He wants to thank Mr. Sheldon Adelson for the support towards the Republican Party. If it had not been for Mr. Adelson’s help, the Republicans would have never gained a majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
However, the support of Mr. Adelson does not mean that all members of the Republican Party would vote in favour of the Bill. Their concern is the “allegation of cronyism”. What is more, the Alliance of Poker Players has already started a campaign in the social networks against the Bill. They demanded everyone, who is somehow affected by the Bill to defend Americans’ rights to have an authorized access to poker websites.
Actually, the Executive Director of the Poker Players Alliance has successfully gathered 500 signatures and submitted a petition against the “Restoration of America´s Wire Act”.
As for the new date that is to be set for the hearing, people familiar with the matter said that the subcommittee’s hearing might not take place as soon as RAWA proponents would like. Before a new date is scheduled, the members of the subcommittee have to reschedule their arrangements and plans for traveling. Yet, there is a chance for the hearing to take place after Easter.
