While the Missouri Gaming Commission meets today to consider shutting down the under-performing President Casino, two state lawmakers are floating a bill that would block the commission from doing any such thing.

Sen. Robin Wright-Jones and Rep. Tishaura Jones are proposing legislation that would prohibit the state from closing a casino on purely economic grounds. It comes a day after word that Gene McNary, the commission's executive director, plans to ask the board to close the President because of its prolonged slump, and presumably give the boat's valuable license to a more lucrative casino.

But that, Wright-Jones said, is not sufficient reason to abruptly shut down a business that supports 241 jobs and provides St. Louis with $2 million a year in much-needed tax revenue.

"I just think it's a reckless proposal," she said. "Let's have some discussion and some thought and slow this down a bit."

Wright-Jones said she will introduce her bill today. Jones has filed an identical version in the House. Both would ban the state from penalizing casinos for "inadequate declining performance." The measure already has one powerful ally. House Speaker Ron Richard signed on as Jones' first co-sponsor.