CenTex GuyCasino gambling debated
March 11th 2009 01:59
Texas lawmakers are currently debating a proposal to open casino gambling in Texas. The summary of the bill proposes several resort area casino options (like South Padre Island and Galveston Island) and would limit casinos to just 12 counties.
But right now most experts, and many lawmakers, expect the bill to fail. The Texas Senate has the votes to carry it, the House might, but in either case, Governor Rick Perry has already indicated it would be met with a veto.
Thus lawmakers have now began to work to get casino gambling approved as a constitutional amendment. Amendments do not need the governor's ok.
The major arguments that opposition is raising this time is about the money that Texas gets from the casinos, and how it will be spent. Opponents say they see a deja vu issue from when the Texas lottery was approved. The approval came on the promise that the money would be used for education, and currently only about 30 percent of that money goes to education.
In truth, educators and burned lawmakers have a right to be ticked off about that issue. They should fight for reform. Frankly, this gives them a perfect out. Those who are ticked can simply say, we will support the casinos if the lotto money finally serves it purpose, or the casino money goes to education.
But even if they don't to vote down a major moneymaker for the state because the state did you wrong before is ridiculous. No I don't want us to make an extra $10 billion a year because when we fought for a way to bring in $1 billion a while back we screwed up with the money."
The logic just doesn't fly. The money in, no matter where it goes, will keep Texas running without the need for major tollroads, without a state income tax, etc...
And there are always those conservatives who take the route about how gambling hurts families, how it leads to other crimes, etc...
But as I've already talked about in previous posts, Oklahoma borders are thriving, and Shreveport went from a city known more for its crime in the 1980s to a thriving tourist attraction, and a booming city today, with the crime rate way down.
And both Oklahoma and Louisiana became that way on Texans' money. Money that should stay home.
But right now most experts, and many lawmakers, expect the bill to fail. The Texas Senate has the votes to carry it, the House might, but in either case, Governor Rick Perry has already indicated it would be met with a veto.
Thus lawmakers have now began to work to get casino gambling approved as a constitutional amendment. Amendments do not need the governor's ok.
The major arguments that opposition is raising this time is about the money that Texas gets from the casinos, and how it will be spent. Opponents say they see a deja vu issue from when the Texas lottery was approved. The approval came on the promise that the money would be used for education, and currently only about 30 percent of that money goes to education.
In truth, educators and burned lawmakers have a right to be ticked off about that issue. They should fight for reform. Frankly, this gives them a perfect out. Those who are ticked can simply say, we will support the casinos if the lotto money finally serves it purpose, or the casino money goes to education.
But even if they don't to vote down a major moneymaker for the state because the state did you wrong before is ridiculous. No I don't want us to make an extra $10 billion a year because when we fought for a way to bring in $1 billion a while back we screwed up with the money."
The logic just doesn't fly. The money in, no matter where it goes, will keep Texas running without the need for major tollroads, without a state income tax, etc...
And there are always those conservatives who take the route about how gambling hurts families, how it leads to other crimes, etc...
And both Oklahoma and Louisiana became that way on Texans' money. Money that should stay home.
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