Sunday, June 18, 2006

Pro-Gambling Groups Fire Three Proposed Amendments at Arkansas Voters

If you've missed the announcements in the paper or the additions to the Secretary of State's website, you many not have noticed that there could be at least three (one for certain) proposed amendments to our state's constitution up for scrutiny by the voters this November, and they're all related to gambling.

The first measure seeks to get the camel's nose further into the tent by allowing "charitable" gambling such as bingo and raffles to be operated by certain non-profit groups. This is the one that will definitely be on the ballot. The other two, currently awaiting challenges to their popular titles, are:

An amendment that would (1) establish a state wide lottery AND (2) allow a particular company- Arkansas Hotels and Resorts, to operate seven casinos on their premises in Sebastian, Pulaski, Garland, Miller, Crittenden, Boone, and Jefferson counties. Of course, the usual "for the children" tactic is being used, with some of the money founding/funding an Arkansas Educational Trust Fund.

An amendment that would, among other things, require the establishment of the Arkansas Commission on Lotteries and Wagering. It takes the interesting measure of specifically naming the first commissioner, one Charles Ormond of Morrilton, Arkansas, who would have the longest initial term- nine years (the other commissioners would be appointed by the governor and re-elected by popular vote under this proposal). It empowers the commission to establish wagering districts, each with the ability to borrow money. It also requires the commission to establish and run at LEAST one statewide lottery.

10 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

my, my, this already smells corrupt.

6:12 PM, June 18, 2006  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Arkansas good-old-boy corruption mixed in with the gambling lobby is like throwing gasoline on a lit match. And we think the highway commission is bad! You ain't seen nothin yet!

6:14 PM, June 18, 2006  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hopefully we won't see it!

6:19 PM, June 18, 2006  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Of course, the usual "for the children" tactic is being used, with some of the money founding/funding an Arkansas Educational Trust Fund.

Look how well it's worked for Mississippi! (please note my sarcasm)

6:20 PM, June 18, 2006  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Bill Halter [tries] to sell gambling as Arkansas' economic cure-all..."

Study after study has proven that gambling is a rotten deal for the poor. The impoverished communities gambling creates are irrefutable and predictable. Also, the myth that schools are underfunded has long ago been exposed as a lie.

So how is it that Democrats, who are usually the ones pushing gambling, get to wear the mantle of "friend of the poor" on this issue?

6:34 PM, June 18, 2006  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Re: Amendment 1,
Non-profits are already getting federal dollars under the "Faith-based initiative" scam. Now we're supposed to play a violin for them on the gambling issue? Don't these people have contributors/donors, or do they have to scam their patrons out of their money?

6:49 PM, June 18, 2006  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Charles Ormond? I've heard that name before- something to do with the last failed gambling amendment...

7:57 PM, June 18, 2006  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maybe Debbie Pelley could tell us?

6:33 AM, June 19, 2006  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gambling would be an absolute disaster for our state. The effect truely is "make the rich richer and the poor poorer."

Besides that, it will bring all kinds of immoral and disgusting industry to our state, and spread what is already here.

2:32 PM, June 19, 2006  
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