Lee Rousso announced last month that he is running for Governor of the state of Washington. Rousso, an attorney, first made news when he filed a court case that is still pending, challenging the online poker ban in Washington. Not to be deterred he now plans on putting up a fight politically if his legal case falters.

Current Governor Christine Gregoir signed into law in March of 2006 that makes playing poker online a Class C felony in Washington. Making online poker players in the same class as people who possess child pornography, threaten the governor, or torture animals.

Rousso is the director of the state of Washington for the Poker Players Alliance and has vowed to meet is ultimate goal of getting this law stricken from the books either through the courts or through the political arena.

Lee claims, “You just can’t even find people who think that this law is a good idea. Even people who are opposed to gambling in general recognize that this law goes way, way, way too far.”

“The reason I announced [my campaign] in January when I did, the first day of the legislative session, is I’m hoping to shake up the legislature and get them to revisit the issue during this legislative session,” Rousso said. “If I could get the law changed, I would pack up my tent and go home, because I would consider mission accomplished.”


- 2008-01-27