 |
|||||||||||||
Texans Gear Up for Yet Another Legalized Gambling BattleTexans are currently gearing up for a bitter fight over the legalization of Las Vegas- style casino gambling in that state.Soon, the Texas legislature will reassemble in the state capital, and the issue of legalized gambling is expected to be a topic of heated debate, with many lawmakers arguing that the legalization could help solve the state's school financing problems. Gambling proponents say that they have not been discouraged by two years of defeats in the legislature, and believe that this is the year that gambling will be made legal. Conservatives are gearing up to fight what they predict will be a heavy influx of gambling industry lobbying dollars. "I absolutely believe that with the kind of money that they're throwing around, the CEOs of these big gambling enterprises see Texas as being ripe for casino development," said Cathie Adams, who heads the right- wing Texas Eagle Forum. Adams said that these gambling industry operators and lobbyists were intentionally trying to trick Texas lawmakers into believing that legalizing gambling would not have a negative effect upon many Texans. However, legalized gambling advocates say that, whether conservatives like it or not, gambling is already part of the lifestyles of many Texans. Texas residents spend billions of dollars in neighboring states, all of which allow some forms of gambling, and in Mexico. Why not, ask gambling lobbyists like Austin- based Bill Stinson, who represents the Fort Worth Stockyards, keep the money in the state? "It doesn't make sense to me why we would drive billions of dollars across state lines when we could keep that money right here in Texas," said Stinson. Stinson envisions a casino gambling site in every major city in Texas: Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and El Paso. His job is to make sure that Fort Worth Stockyards will play a part in any gambling casino activity that is legalized. Texas Governor Rick Perry is an advocate of allowing Las Vegas- style gambling in Texas, and has been trying to get the legislature to consider this since 2004. However, getting the gambling legislation passed has proved to be an uphill battle. State Rep. Jim Dunnam of Waco, for example, said that he fought against the gambling initiatives in 2004 and 2005, although he says that he is not totally opposed to the idea. "What we as Democrats were saying was don't use the school finance crisis as an excuse for more legalized gambling," Dunnam said. "I'm concerned about funding public education, health care programs and so on. We need to look at the whole issue of gambling and whether it makes sense for Texas. If we decide that it does, then we put it on the table and discuss how the proceeds should be used."
Copyright © 2006 Casino-Consultant.co.uk All rights reserved. |