The Leach List

By RICH MUNY, aka "TheEngineer"

The Leach List, named in "honor" of anti-poker extremist former Rep. Jim Leach (R-IA), is comprised of 26 congressmen and four senators opposed to poker rights who are in tough reelection fights this year. Please see my blog on the Poker Players Alliance website for more information.

U.S. House Leach List

(in alphabetical order)

Bachmann, Michele [R-MN]
Rep. Bachmann is F rated in my Congressional guide, as she voted no on the pro-poker H.R. 5767 King Amendment. The DFL (Democratic) nominee is Elwyn Tinklenberg. The Independence Party has endorsed Tinklenberg as well.

Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]
Rep. Capito is F rated in my Congressional guide, as she voted for the anti-poker HR 4411 and cosponsored the anti-poker HR 4777. She also voted no on the H.R. 5767 King Amendment. Her Democratic challenger is Anne Barth, a longtime former aide to U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd.

Chabot, Steven [R-OH]
Rep. Chabot is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he voted for HR 4411 and cosponsored HR 4777. He won by 52% to 48% in 2006, compared to 60% to 40% in 2004. State House Democratic Whip Steve Driehaus is the Democratic nominee.

Dent, Charles [R-PA]
Rep. Dent is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he cosponsored HR 4411. Allentown Democratic Party chairwoman Sam Bennett is the Democratic nominee.

Diaz-Balart, Lincoln [R-FL]
Rep. Diaz-Balart is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he voted for HR 4411 and cosponsored HR 4777. He is being challenged for the Republican nomination by Dean Santoro. Well-known former Hialeah Mayor Raul L. Martinez and Richard Allbritton are seeking the Democratic nomination. The primary elections are on August 26, 2008.

Drake, Thelma [R-VA]
Rep. Drake is F rated in my Congressional guide, as she voted for HR 4411 and cosponsored HR 4777. She won in 2006 by only 51.3% to 48.5%. Diplomat Glenn Nye is the Democratic nominee; the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) named Drake a "targeted Republican".

Feeney, Tom [R-FL]
Rep. Feeney is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he voted for HR 4411 and cosponsored HR 4777. He also voted no on the H.R. 5767 King Amendment. Former State Rep. Suzanne Kosmas is seeking the Democratic nomination, as are 2006 challenger Clint Curtis and Jason Davis. The primary election is on August 26, 2008.

Garrett, Scott [R-NJ]
Rep. Garrett is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he voted for HR 4411 and voted no on the H.R. 5767 King Amendment. The Democratic nominee is rabbi Dennis G. Shulman.

Gerlach, Jim [R-PA]
Rep. Gerlach is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he voted for HR 4411 and voted no on the H.R. 5767 King Amendment. The Democratic nominee is former businessman Bob Roggio.

Goode, Virgil [R-VA]
Rep. Goode is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he voted for HR 4411 and cosponsored HR 4777. Goode is running for re-election against Democrat Tom Perriello.

Hayes, Robin [R-NC]
Rep. Hayes is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he voted for HR 4411 and cosponsored HR 4777. Hayes barely hung on in his 2006 re-election bid against Democrat Larry Kissell by a 329-vote margin. They will have a rematch this year; Kissell is the Democratic nominee.

Keller, Ric [R-FL]
Rep. Keller is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he voted for HR 4411 and cosponsored HR 4777. Orlando businessman Charlie Stuart, his 2006 opponent, is running for the Democratic nomination, as is former state prosecutor Mike Smith. After the November 2006 election, Keller announced that he would break his 2000 pledge to serve only four terms. Because of this, conservative radio host Todd Long is challenging him in the Republican primary, as is Bob Hering. The primary elections are on August 26, 2008.

Kirk, Mark [R-IL]
Rep. Kirk is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he cosponsored both HR 4411 and HR 4777. Kirk survived a surprisingly close race in 2006, winning by 53% to 47%. Kirk will again face his 2006 opponent, Dan Seals, who won the Democratic primary. David Kalbfleisch, the founder of the Arlington Heights chapter of the Green Party, is that party's nominee. Allan Stevo is running as a conservative independent candidate.

Kuhl, John [R-NY]
Rep. Kuhl is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he voted for HR 4411 and cosponsored HR 4777. Kuhl survived a tight race in 2006, beating Eric Massa (D) by 52% to 48%. There will be a rematch this year -- Massa is the Democratic nominee.

Latham, Thomas [R-IA]
Rep. Latham is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he cosponsored HR 4411. Community and party activist Becky Greenwald is the Democratic nominee.

McHenry, Patrick T. [R-NC]
Rep. McHenry is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he voted no on the H.R. 5767 King Amendment. Navy vet Daniel Johnson is the Democratic nominee. Bryan Greene is the Constitution Party nominee.

Musgrave, Marilyn [R-CO]
Rep. Musgrave is F rated in my Congressional guide, as she voted for HR 4411 and cosponsored Goodlatte's HR 4777. Musgrave is known for her staunch opposition to gay marriage. Betsy Markey is the Democratic nominee. Markey is a businesswoman and the former regional director for U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar.

Reichert, David G. [R-WA]
Rep. Reichert is D rated in my Congressional guide, as he voted for HR 4411. Reichert won a close 51% to 49% re-election bid against Democratic former Microsoft product manager Darcy Burner in 2006. There will be a rematch this year -- Burner is the Democratic nominee. Burner has received nationwide attention for her work on the Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq, and is considered a leader among anti-war Democrats.

Rogers, Michael [R-MI]
Rep. Rogers is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he cosponsored both HR 4411 and HR 4777. Lansing Democratic activist Bob Alexander (who lost in 2004 to Rogers) is his party's nominee. Aaron Stuttman is running for the Green Party, Will Tyler White for the Libertarian Party, and George Zimmer for the U.S. Taxpayer Party (known nationally as the Constitution Party).

Roskam, Peter J. [R-IL]
Rep. Roskam is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he voted no on the H.R. 5767 King Amendment. Jill Morgenthaler, a retired U.S. Army Reserve Colonel and Iraq War veteran, is the Democratic nominee.

Schmidt, Jean [R-OH]
Rep. Schmidt is D rated in my Congressional guide, as she voted for HR 4411. Her positions on other social issues indicate a likelihood that she'll oppose us when given the opportunity. Schmidt barely held on by a 51% to 49% margin against Democratic physician Victoria Wulsin in 2006. Her district is a heavily Republican one, but she has never had an easy primary or general election. Wulsin is again the Democratic nominee.

Shadegg, John [R-AZ]
Rep. Shadegg is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he cosponsored both HR 4411 and HR 4777. Shadegg announced that he would not be a candidate for reelection. However, ten days later, he announced that he would seek reelection. The Democratic nominee, tax attorney Bob Lord, outraised Shadegg in the first quarter of 2007 and has more cash on hand than Shadegg. Independent candidate Annie Loyd and Libertarian Michael Shoen are also running.

Shays, Christopher [R-CT]
Rep. Shays is F- rated in my Congressional guide, as he cosponsored HR 4411 and as he voted no on the H.R. 5767 King Amendment. Shays is an outspoken opponent of our rights - a real anti-poker extremist. Shays won 51% of the vote in 2006 and 52% in 2004. Jim Himes and Lee Whitnum are seeking the Democratic nomination. The primary is in August. Richard Z. Duffee is the Green Party candidate.

Souder, Mark [R-IN]
Rep. Souder is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he cosponsored both HR 4411 and HR 4777. Mike Montagano is the Democratic nominee.

Terry, Lee [R-NE]
Rep. Lee is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he voted cosponsored both HR 4411 and HR 4777. His Democratic opponent is Omaha businessman Jim Esch.

Wolf, Frank [R-VA]
Rep. Wolf is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he voted for HR 4411 and cosponsored HR 4777. The Democratic nominee is Professor of Public Policy at Georgetown University and Dean of their Georgetown Public Policy Institute Judy Feder.

U.S. Senate Leach List

(in alphabetical order)

Dole, Elizabeth [R-NC]
Sen. Dole is F rated in my Congressional guide. She signed Kyl's anti-poker UIGEA comment to the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve opposing our right to play. Kay Hagen is seeking the seat as the Democratic nominee.

Johnson, Tim [D-SD]
Sen. Johnson is F- rated in my Congressional guide. He sponsored anti-gaming bill S3006. He also cosponsored Kyl's anti-online gaming bills S474 and S692. Joel Dykstra is seeking the seat as the Republican nominee.

Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Sen. Smith is F rated in my Congressional guide. He signed Kyl's anti-poker UIGEA comment to the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve opposing our right to play. Jeff Merkley is seeking the seat as the Democratic nominee.

Wicker, Roger [R-MS]
Sen. Wicker is F rated in my Congressional guide, as he cosponsored HR 4411 and HR 4777 while in the House. Ronnie Musgrove is seeking the seat as the Democratic nominee.

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About the author: Rich Muny, an engineer who lives in Union, Ky., is an advocate of Internet poker rights. He is on the board of directors of the Poker Players Alliance.