Barney Frank spearheaded the issue in 2009, introducing two new bills into Congress—one, in essence, delaying implementation of the law passed in 2006 that would make it illegal for poker sites to allow U.S. players; the other, setting up regulations for legalizing online poker in the U.S.—but neither one has seen the light of day, no matter how much support it’s garnered (and it’s garnered a lot!)

And today it is not either of Rep. Frank’s online poker bills making headlines, but a new bill crafted by 2 senators: Senator Ron Wyden and Senator Judd Gregg. And in truth, the bill is about a lot more than just legal online poker for U.S. residents.

The Tax Fairness and Simplification Act aims to make it easier for peole to files their taxes. That’s what its main goal is. But the bill is filled with addons including one that permits legal online poker gambling in the U.S. (presumably for the intelligent reason of bringing the state revenues to perhaps cover the costs of the bill).

Whatever the bill’s main or primary aims, we can only hope that the part about legalizing online poker in the U.S. finally gets through.