Gov. Steve Beshear has asked Judge Thomas Wingate to block access to online poker gambling Web sites in Kentucky.

According to Beshear, such sites “siphon off money from regulated and legal games such as Kentucky’s thoroughbred racing industry (and) our lottery.”

Beshear doesn’t oppose gambling, as long as he’s got his hand in the pot. Beshear claims Kentuckians are wagering millions online, millions that could be generating revenue for the state. Does he really think that online poker players are going to transfer those “millions” from the poker table to the lottery ticket?

Contrary to the governor’s claims, online poker is not illegal under Kentucky state law, and Internet poker is fully regulated. Nor is it true that online poker is untaxed - poker income is taxed at the state and federal levels. The industry itself is not taxed because Kentucky chose to not levy a tax.

The industry is not regulated by the commonwealth only because Kentucky has chosen not to license and regulate poker sites. Were Kentucky to do so, I believe the poker sites would jump at the opportunity, and I fully support legislation to implement this.

If Kentucky lawmakers wish to implement tighter regulations, taxation mechanisms and consumer protections on Internet gambling, I suggest they support federal legislation, specifically HR 2460, which would achieve those goals.

This seems a fair way to guarantee appropriate regulations while also protecting the freedom and privacy of Kentuckians.

I am outraged that our governor feels he has the right to censor my online activities, to invade my privacy by regulating what I do in the sanctity of my own home.

This kind of mommy government censorship is the kind of public policy I would expect in China, not in the United States.

Barry Kaufkins

Bowling Green