In Kansas, Carrie Nation battled booze by smashing up saloons, the state school board once approved science guidelines questioning evolution and anti-abortion leaders have made their stiffest stands - all burnishing the state's conservative credentials.While Kansas may be a conservative state in terms of its voting record, it clearly hasn't been run by conservative principles of governance or it wouldn't be in the mess it is now. Becoming official purveyors of gambling makes the state a contributor to the financial woes of its citizens...even more than it normally would be.
Now, Kansas is poised for an unlikely distinction: It's about to get into the casino business, not merely by blessing gambling and taxing the profits but by becoming the legal owner of the casinos themselves.
Kansas is believed to be the only state with such an arrangement. It already has four Indian casinos, but its first non-tribal one is set to open in December in Dodge City, the former cowtown and setting of television's "Gunsmoke."
It's all because the state, known for its conservative history and a vibrant right wing within its dominant Republican Party, needs the money.
Lawmakers in recent months have slashed money for schools and other state services, and the current state budget relies on $50 million in casino licensing fees to remain balanced.
"It's terribly ironic, and disappointingly so. I never dreamed that Kansas would be the first to try this experiment," said House Speaker Mike O'Neal, a Hutchinson Republican who fought unsuccessfully to block the 2007 law authorizing the new casinos and slot machines at racetracks.
Developers will build the casinos, install slot machines, set up tables and manage dealers, all under contract with the state lottery. They pay upfront privilege fees: $5.5 million for Dodge City and $25 million each for casinos planned in the Kansas City and Wichita areas.
The state will own the games and control software determining who wins and may overrule management decisions. Contracts spell out how revenues are divided.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Conservative Kansas Gets In the Casino Business
Looks like a new low for state government:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
2 comments:
Well said, Rick. Fostering the notion of "something for nothing" does not add value to a society, culture, state or nation. It shifts value/dollars around, not creating new value/wealth.
The sad part about this decision is the economically poor citizens take on the brunt of lottery/gambling when they are the least able to afford it. It's done out of desperation. And this state would encourage sending one's last dollars to a state lottery, instead of buying prescriptions or food?
If you look around, those states with lotteries have ticket outlets in economically more depressed areas. Not much available in Beverly Hills, but lots of ticket vendors in say, Santa Ana. That should indicate to the observant person that state lotteries prey upon the poor.
These economically poor don't have political power. They don't have lobbyists. They don't vote.
So the politicians in power swoop down like a vulture to prey upon their soon to be economically empty carcasses. How despicable.
This is a sad day for my state. What in the world is going on with our state leaders that would allow this abomination here in this proud state? We used to be known as the state with the high morals.
Sad, Sad, Sad!
Post a Comment