Chairman of Ways and Means Committee sides with Antigua in WTO dispute

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Charles Rangel, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, addressed the WTO Antigua dispute in the Antigua Sun yesterday.

“I think my country is wrong in trying to change the rules of the WTO,” in regards to this issue, said Rangel.

He suggested that different factors of US government may draw together to reach the goal of legalizing and regulating internet gambling. “Where we can weigh in is that we can discuss our position, from a legislative point of view, with the USTR – a part of the executive branch. But in the final analysis, if legislation has to be determined, it may not be on the moral issue because some of my friends in the Congress are anxious for other reasons to legalise gambling, and not as a moral issue but as a revenue enhancement issue. So there are a lot of other things – moving parts – that may allow us to reach the same conclusion.”

According to the Sun article, Rangel also believes that the Frank bill would not necessarily help directly with the WTO dispute, though it’s a valuable piece in combination with other forces.