Fund Healthcare with Online Gambling Dollars Says Senator

As support grows for Rep. Barney Frank’s proposed Internet Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2009, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden has offered an amendment to the Senate Finance Committee which seeks to direct online gambling tax revenues to fund low-income subsidies provided through the America’s Healthy Future Act.

 Frank’s Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act seeks to establish a licensing and regulatory regime that would allow operators to offer their services online in states that choose to permit online gambling, while safeguarding against problem gambling, money laundering and fraud.

 The proposed legislation has garnered 58 co-sponsors since its introduction on May 6th 2009, 52 of which are Democrats.

 The amendment proposed last week by Democratic Senator Ron Wyden would use online gambling tax revenue to finance a recently unveiled bipartisan $856 billion healthcare reform bill, designed to appeal to both Democrats and Republicans and offer an alternative to President Obama’s healthcare reform proposal.