Posted on 02/16/2005 7:52:07 AM PST by Dubya
AUSTIN - Casinos with Las Vegas-style gambling -- blackjack, craps, roulette -- could pop up all over Texas under a proposal being floated by state Rep. Charlie Geren.
The gambling plan, perhaps the most ambitious yet discussed during the 79th Texas Legislature, would require multiple voter referendums: one statewide, to amend the Texas Constitution; and then others, by voters in every county where gambling comes under consideration.
"Just like Las Vegas" is how Geren, R-Fort Worth, described the proposed legislation.
Whether to expand gambling has become one of the most contentious questions before Texas lawmakers -- and the source of internecine heartburn among the state's GOP majority.
Republican Jane Nelson, a state senator from Lewisville, characterized the plan outlined Tuesday as "a terrible idea." She said it would carry hidden economic and social costs.
"The [revenue] projections do not take into account the increased regulatory, health and human services costs," she said.
But Geren said voters should get to decide on a plan that he said could raise $2.5 billion annually for the state.
"Let the people of Texas decide if they even want gambling," he said.
The gambling proposal would be included in a bill to be filed within the next few days, said Geren. However, it remains unclear what lawmaker would become its official sponsor, or even whether it stands a chance of success.
Like most other gambling plans floated in recent years, Geren's proposal would require support from two-thirds of House and Senate members -- a tall order given Republican divisions over the issue. Geren said he and other bill supporters are getting close to mustering that support in the House.
If adopted, the plan would allow voters in any of the state's 254 counties to authorize casinos through a local referendum. But first, voters statewide would have to approve a change to the Texas Constitution.
Geren said the plan would require two votes by the Texas Legislature: one during this session, to authorize the statewide constitutional referendum, and then another during a future session, to authorize counties to hold local referendums.
That means the plan could not take effect until after the next regular session, in 2007, or possibly after an earlier special session, said Geren.
Several lawmakers have floated other gambling proposals -- typically to allow slot machines at existing horse tracks -- but Geren's plan goes several steps further. Nonetheless, Geren predicted it would draw wider support than less ambitious plans because it could bring in more money.
He said that lawmakers would support the plan because gambling in their districts would depend on local referendums. But he also expects opposition from Republican leaders, who described an earlier gambling proposal by state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, as an "attack on Texas families." Turner's plan would allow slot machines on Indian reservations and in single locations in nine parts of the state.
"The Republican Party beat on Sylvester pretty bad, and they won't pull any punches with their own party," said Geren.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, the Republican who presides over the Texas Senate, said Geren's proposal would have an uncertain future in the upper chamber.
"Personally, I'm opposed to gambling," Dewhurst told reporters. "The only thing which has been discussed in the Senate in the past has been video [slot machines] at racetracks where we already have simulcast betting."
House Speaker Tom Craddick said it remains unclear how much support any gambling plan could muster. "We haven't started polling yet," he said.
I could not agree with this more. In Houston if you want to gamble you drive to Louisiana to do it. My wife and I do this about twice a year. The majority of the licence plate I see in the parking lot in Lake Charles are from TX. Lets keep the money in the state.
I guess that if we want to tax stupid people more (those who can't do math), more statewide gambling would be a good idea. I'll vote against it.
This should be fun watching my state rep and my state senator duke it out over gambling.
IMO, I hope it passes. The hypocrisy of the lotto and no casino gambling is blatant. At least in a casino, you can actually win, and it's as close to a fair bet as you'll ever get.
This from the state where some of the gap-toothed idiots are still pushing to re-legalize dumb animals cutting each other to ribbons with razors.
The Baptists will keep casino gambling out of Texas......for now.
Good point. I know a few people who go to our church who sometimes go to another state to gamble. I don't see anything wrong with them doing that.
There will be plenty who don't want it in TX. They seem to thing they have to mother other people and their money.
Jane Nelson is right. Rep. Geren is way off base here. Gambling dramatically increases social pathologies of all sorts - bankruptcy, divorce, crime, etc. There are some studies that claim that it is a net loss for a community, given the extra expenses for social disasters.
It typically tends to tempt the poor more than the rich as well.
LOL. It will be fun to watch. I have already wrote my Rep and Sen and the Gov and ask them to OK gambling for school tax.
My wife and I onl;y take about $100 to gamble, slots. We have fun, sometimes we win sometimes we lose. But we always have fun and a few good meals on our day gambling trips.
I hope they give us a chance to vote and find out what the most people in TX want. I will vote for it myself.
I just hope they give us a chance to vote and tell us want is good for us and what is bad for us.
I don't gamble, but I don't see the sin in it.
I really do not have strong feelings one way or the other about legalized gambling, but that is a good suggestion.
Sounds like a fun trip to me. Its nice for you and your wife to be having fun together.
Maybe not.
The Baptist, and I am a member of a SBC church, don't always vote the way the preachers tell them to.
I hope it passes
ME TOO.
( paraphrase ) What "is" Vegas needs to stay in Vegas.
I'll vote against it. I am tired of seeing people who are living on the government buying cigarettes, liquor, and lottery tickets while I ( we ) foot the bill. If they can afford those items, they can afford to feed and cloth the many children they keep creating.
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