Presidential candidate Ron Paul legalising online gambling
A candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2008 Presidential election has stated that the Internet should not be regulated and voiced his support for Barney Franks Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act (IGREA). Presidential candidate Ron Paul is no stranger to controversy having called for American troops to leave Iraq immediately, the abolishment of the Internal Revenue Service and Federal Income Tax and voting against the USA PATRIOT Act. The ten-term Texas Congressman said that he agreed to co-sponsor IGREA with Frank, a member of the rival Democrat Party, legalising online gambling because he does not believe the Government should be involved in regulating the Internet. IGREA would modify the existing Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) by providing a provision for licensing of Internet gambling facilities by the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. 
‘I believe strongly that the Internet should not be regulated by the Federal Government and believe even more strongly that people should be free to engage in the activities they wish as long as they are willing to take responsibility for their actions,’ said Paul. Paul spoke following a rally in the eastern state of Pennsylvania and said that support for IGREA is dependent on the publics opinion of the Internet itself. ‘The majority of people in Washington were afraid to support the Internet for fear it would label them ‘pro-porn or ‘pro-gambling.’ The news follows California Congressman Adam Schiffs announcement that he is to sponsor Mr Franks bill, bringing the total number of Members who publicly support the measure to 35.