Legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate recently that, in part, would legalize online poker.  The bill has bi-partisan support and borrows wording from Rep. Barney Frank’s bill.  There are downsides to this news, however.  The legislation includes provisions that could be less than ideal to some players, such as a 50% tax on deposits from residents of states that opt out, and is included in legislation that would substantially alter the Alternative Minimum Tax, perhaps maxing it difficult to pass.  The PPA, the poker industry’s most powerful lobby, has yet to address the legislation publicly.  Still, this is a very powerful development for poker.