Biggest primary winners? Gambling interests
OK, so they aren’t even on the ballot today, but the biggest election winners might already be in.
Secretary of State Robin Carnahan today certified for the ballot two initiatives, including one pushed by gambling interests. The ballot initiative would do three major things:
1. Get rid of Missouri’s loss limits, long a thorn in the side of the gambling industry.
2. Limit the number of casinos in Missouri to those already built or being built.
3. Raise the gambling tax from 20 to 21 percent.
Obviously, for existing gambling companies in Missouri, this would be a huge victory. For outside companies wanting to come in? Not so much.
Of course, when the television ads start, much of this won’t be mentioned. Why? The gambling companies are marketing this as a schools’ ballot initiative because some of the money from the increase in taxes will be dedicated to schools, including higher education.
And the losers today?
The eminent domain petitions to change the state constitution failed, as did a renewable energy initiative. Expect legal challenges to try to get those issues back on the ballot.
Carnahan also certified for the ballot an initiative to create the Quality Home Care Council, which aims to help Missourians in need of home health care find quality caretakers.
The gambling interests will put forth a well funded effort to eliminate future competition in Missouri - and they will win. All you have to do is say “it’s for the kids” and idiot voters will do whatever you tell them.
If we are going to cut off expansion of gambling in Missouri, we need to level the financial playing field by spreading casino revenue evenly throughout the state. This proposition might be a jackpot for the casino industry, but it shouldn’t be a jackpot for the few municipalities fortunate enough to already have a casino. Maryland Heights city government spends more per resident than Ladue, thanks to Harrah’s. This has bought them a brand new, gold plated municipal center, and a water park, all without local property taxes like the rest of us pay. Meanwhile, other municipalities throughout the state can’t afford to patch potholes and put enough cops on the street. Spread the municipal casino revenue evenly across the state, that’ll be fair to everyone.