The gambling industry won big in the recent special session
of the Louisiana Legislature – and can be expected to try for more in the
current regular session, Ken Ward warned.
The gambling industry won big in the recent special session
of the Louisiana Legislature – and can be expected to try for more in the
current regular session, Ken Ward warned.
In the special session, legislators approved a reduced tax
designed to keep the land-based casino in New Orleans open. They also raised
taxes on river boats, in exchange for dropping all requirements for them to
cruise.
The governor and legislators insisted the moves were not an
expansion of gambling. However, river boat operators predicted that dropping
the cruise requirement would result in an increase of up to 10 percent in gambling
revenue.
Any way one looks at it, it was a bad special session for gambling
opponents, acknowledged Ward, executive director of the Louisiana Moral and
Civic Foundation.
Ward encouraged persons to consider writing the governor and
their legislators to express disappointment and to urge them not to pass other
bills favorable to gambling.
And there are sure to be such measures, he said.
Indeed, Ward predicted a push to provide for local elections
that would restore video poker in parishes where it was voted out several years
ago. Opponents will have to fight that battle on two fronts – not to allow
such elections and to make sure elections are fairly designed, if legislators
prove intent on providing for them.
Other pro-gambling measures could be filed as well, Ward said,
noting the Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation will be monitoring bills in
the next several days.
“I know concerned citizens have to be disappointed and
weary in the fight against gambling,” Ward said. “But too much is
at stake to be silent. We must work to prevent additional damage during the
regular session.”
The Baptist Message will provide a report on key bills.
To communicate with the governor
Call: (225) 342-7015 Fax: (225) 342-7099
Write: The Honorable Murphy J. Foster, Jr.,
P.O. Box 94004, Baton Rouge, LA 70804.
To communicate with a state senator
Call: (225) 342-2040 Fax (225) 342-0617
Write: The Honorable John Doe,
P.O. Box 94183, Baton Rouge, LA 70804.
To communicate with a state representative:
Call: (225) 342-6945 Fax: (225) 342-8336
Write: The Honorable John Doe,
P.O. Box 94062, Baton Rouge, LA 70804.
The Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation:
Call: (225) 767-1908 Fax: (225) 767-1913
Write: LMCF, P.O. Box 2951, Baton Rouge, LA 70821