D E M O CR AT I C G O V E R N O R S AS S O C I AT I O N 1 4 0 1 K S T R E E T NW , S U I T E 2 0 0 | W A S H I NG T O N , D C 2 0 0 0 5 T 202.772.5600 | F 202.772.5602 | W W W . D E M O CR AT I CG O V E R NO R S . O R G March 17, 2015 The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader U.S. Senate Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Harry Reid Minority Leader U.S. Senate Washington, DC 20510 Vice Chair The Honorable John Boehner Speaker of the House U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Minority Leader U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dear Senators McConnell and Reid, Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi, Gov. Steve Bullock Montana Chair Gov. Dan Malloy Connecticut Chair-Elect Gov. Maggie Hassan New Hampshire Gov. Alejandro Garcia-Padilia Puerto Rico Gov. Jay Inslee Washington Finance Chair Gov. Jack Markell Delaware Gov. Peter Shumlin Vermont Elisabeth Pearson Executive Director Peter O’Keefe Treasurer On behalf of the Democratic Governors Association, we are writing to express our opposition to the “Restoration of America’s Wire Act 2015,” as introduced by Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-UT). We believe strongly that the issue of Internet gaming, as has historically been the case with other forms of gaming, is best left to the states to decide and regulate. This approach is consistent with the congressional intent related to online gaming as stated in the “Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006,” decades after the Wire Act was enacted. State legislators, working in tandem with governors and executive branch agencies, are best positioned to decide if and how online gaming works in their communities. Furthermore, a well-regulated online gaming industry could provide a significant revenue source for state governments while allowing our law enforcement agencies to better deter and prosecute dangerous criminal activity – including fraud, money laundering and terrorist financing. As you consider the issue of Internet gaming, we hope you give strong consideration to the importance of preserving these state rights and the opportunity that embracing a state-by-state regulatory approach could provide. Sincerely, Governor Steve Bullock Chair, DGA State of Montana Governor Maggie Wood Hassan Vice Chair, DGA State of New Hampshire Paid for by the Democratic Governors Association. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.