After the way Sedgwick County commissioners recoiled from a casino advisory vote, it’s been remarkable to see commissioners in Harvey County and, as of Monday, Marion County quickly and unanimously find the political will to approve such ballots. None of this may matter, of course, should legislative proposals to expand gambling collapse again next spring. But should the pressure to find new revenue at last prove greater than opposition to gambling, each of these other counties will be well-positioned to welcome a casino that will suck money out of Sedgwick County.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- Heckler on Open thread 11/23
- Agnatha on Let immigrants run
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/23
- Agnatha on Let immigrants run
- Raptor on Too many exemptions
- Phantom on Open thread 11/23
- Raptor on Too many exemptions
- Monkeyhawk on Open thread 11/23
- ANTI on Open thread 11/23
- JimJohnson on Open thread 11/23
26 Comments
Good point, Rhonda. It’s kind of like poetic justice. Our gagle of cowards that pass for a county commission caved to what passes for representation in this part of the state, so now, we’ll send the money out of county and get nothing in return. Sometimes this town (and county) just slays me. We say we want tourism, but we avoid the one thing that would bring lots of tourists to this dusty cowtown; a destination casino. But that’s the way it goes in most of Kansas. If it sounds like fun, it’s gotta be a sin, and we can’t have no sinnin around here!
And of course, no rant on this subject would be complete without mentioning our right to vote. Seems funny how we had the right, nay the DUTY to vote on the defence of marriage law, but we aren’t allowed to vote on a casino. All things considered, I guess we just have to accept that Big Brother knows best.
Here is the big secret! Just because a county votes for approval of a Casino, it doesn’t mean they automatically get one. The chances of any of these outlining countries voting for approval and actually getting a casino is very remote. In other words, its not going to happen.
The Sedgwick County Commissioners know this and they will not waste tax payers money because of an unprofessional, antisocial, angry mayor of Pitstop city wants one.
Another little secret is that the county, plus the State doesn’t want another Indian Casino. It is not the best revenue option for them, so Bob Knight (while I really like him and know him) is nothing going to make this go through.
The County and State is going to look at State run Casinos, and there are already at least three different investors ready to step up and build one in Wichita. All they have to do is wait until the next Legislative session.
A non-binding vote before the legislative session is not going to do anything.
The sucking sound you hear, Rhonda, is the hot air from Bob Knight leaving Sedgwick County and the crying from Dee Stuart for not getting her way when she through a temper-tantrum. Even though there is a Minnesota (liberal state) study with hard evidence of social costs much higher than revenue (revenue, not profits) from Casino, let’s humor the uninformed. IF our thoughtful County Commissioners decide to spend our tax dollars on a referrendum (est. to be $100,000), and IF it passed, it would not legalize a Casino. The State Legislators would have to pass a bill and the Governor would have to sign the bill. AND, because Republicans will always hold the majority, the bill would most likely follow the model of liquor by the drink, meaning it would require a local vote. Another vote.
If folks trully want a Casino, the fastest path to the ‘promised land’ is through the State Legislators. The dirty little secret is that our Governor and State Legislators do not want to spend political capital on the Casino, and thus are trying to force the local officials to spend their political capital. Some (Harvey Co., Derby) have taken the bait. Our Sedgwick County Commissioners, however, are smarter than the average Legislator.
On gambling joints: Been there and done that along with prostitution–in 1872. It didn’t work. Gambling is a something-for-nothing proposition. Do you believe in this? Calling in all suckers? If so, where are you getting your information?
ID,The Minnesota Study is at http://www.amexp.org/Special%20Reports/GamblingInMinnesota.pdf(This is not new information to WE Editors)
And for the ACLU, Unions, and other great organizations that trully care for the downtrodden, you might start demanding tax increases and corporate programs modeled after the following gambling addiction websites;http://www.lottery.state.mn.us/compgamb.htmlhttp://www.ncpgambling.org
I cannot imagine a single Casino becoming a ‘destination’ for any tourist.The term destination seems to be a new buzz word the Eagle uses to promote this nonsense.
Jimmy,IF WE Editors have had the Minnesota study, then why haven’t they published a series of stories exposing truth from fiction? Shouldn’t this fall under the ‘Now you Know’ category?
xxx,The Gay Marriage vote was state-wide, not county or city. Are we to be like the left-coast California and vote on every major issue? How about a yearly referrendum on liberal, conservative, independent, and libertarian platforms? Winner takes all? Simple majority?
So Win, we’re not entitled to vote on an issue unless it’s state-wide?
“The ACLU, really cares, for the downtrodden.”Now that is the most stupid comment I’ve read on this blog!
The ACLU, with all their stupid, insane demands and pronouncements, is about on par with Joe McArthy (sp)and his intolerable rants, during the fifties. They have nothing to offer, but they appeal to the mentally deficient members of our society. Their goal, is just to confuse the issue and agitate, whimper and whine.
What has the ACLU, EVER done for anyone? Not a D*^$m thing.
In my best Regan type…There you go again. Entitlements. It’s a funny. Get it? Nevermind.
Statewide vote is cheaper than county by county, city by city vote. Put it to a Statewide vote that will immediately start the process of expanding Casinos in Kansas OR immediately puts the issue to bed. Either way, it is the fastest decision making process.
I hate to agree with ID and Joe, but it’s the State Legislators and our Governor who are working together behind the scenes to force the the local governments to spend political capital. At the end of the day, it is our State leaders who will draft and pass the bill allowing Casinos. As stated above, the bill will most likely contain provisions requiring county/city referrendums to allow/prevent local Casinos. Blaming local officials is misdirected, and playing into the hands of our Governor and State Legislators.
Well I think everyone is right about this gambling thing. I spent an enjoyable week in Vegas this summer and spent some money at those destination casinos. The Gov. of Mississippi just passed into law, allowing land based casinos; seem they lost about 5.6 billion anually due to the hurricanes. State run casinos now that is a laugh, who are you going to put in charge, the current BOE members?
So Justa, ya holding Mississippi, Louisiana and Vegas poverty, crime rate and education success up as a success?
I think we are missing the point here. The Gov. and the Senate President have both stated that any casino expansion depends on the locals voicing their preference on one being located in their county.
The current trend in expanded gaming indicates that those counties who have stated their preference for a casino will be considered for one. Those that do not express their preference through a referendum will be frozen out for a period of at least five years and then will be required to get legislative approval.
Can you imagine those counties who are seeing their casino parking lots full of Sedgwick County tags voting to give up that windfall?
The truth of the matter is that the anti-gaming crowd has intimidated the County Commission into submission, regardless of the interest of the people.
I’ll speak slowly, so you can understand, Zoom. The real truth of the matter is that regardless of a premature referrendum, State offials will have to pass a law allowing some form of Casinos.
Are you with me so far?
For argument sake, let’s say the bill passes, even with our far right conservative legislators. Since our legislature has a Republican majority and the Governor is Democrat, the Casino bill will most likely be a compromise that will allow Casino’s only for those areas (cities and/or counties) that pass the real referrendum vote. You may recall the liquor by the drink era.
NOW, the cities and/or counties can vote.
Really, Zoom, I think you are a not-so-under-cover agent of Landwehr, et al. Confess.
The real real truth of the matter is that the State electorate would rather the local officials spend political capital on an issue that Landwehr et al. has no intention on passing. Their intent is to expose the moderates so that the far right can use the local Casino referrendum to ferret out the moderates.
And, really, if the State passes a Casino law, and Sedgwick County follows up with a Casino referrendum that passes, then prime real estate locations like Sedgwick County or Salina will not be ‘frozen’ out, regardless of what Bob Knight spins.
ID:
You are living in a dream world!
It is hard to vote either way without some idea of the Casino that might be built. Do we want a single Casino with all the attendant problems of a monopoly? Deal with Knight and his Indian friends. Would we prefer to be a real Destination? There are plenty of wheat fields nearby. Open them up to at least ten separately owned casinos and let competition prevail. Would we become a rich and famous gambling Mecca of the plains? Or would they all go broke?I would love #2. I would fight to the death to prevent #1.
“But should the pressure to find new revenue at last prove greater than opposition to gambling, each of these other counties will be well-positioned to welcome a casino that will suck money out of Sedgwick County.Posted by Rhonda Holman”No, No Rhonda. Not sucking from the county but from the poor, retired, stupid and, of course, you.
Here is your resolution w/o a costly referrendum. http://www.kwch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=KWCH/MGArticle/WCH_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128767617610
Notice the State backpeddle. Why doesn’t Sebilius and the State Legislators pass a bill? Why do they want a costly vote when Commissioner Burtnett will drive a binding resolution (next best thing to a vote) to a successful vote by the other Commissioners? Simple. No political guts. No backbone. No STATE LEADERSHIP!!! They spend their time trying to get others to do their dirty work.
Also, notice the absence of City leadership.
So what does this tell you about this issue? Can you say Hot Potatoe? For all of your Rants to the County Commission, at least they are doing something.
Well I am going to KC this weekend and spend a few dollars at Harrahs. I will probably bring back some cigarettes and liquor for my friends. Those Missourians must have a low moral threshold, maybe we should send Mayans up there to straighten them out. lol
Actually ID. They do take it up every session. It just gets killed on a floor vote.
It had a good chance two years ago, but a senator in our area killed it by adding a provision that would allow slots in every bowling alley and club in the state. They thought it was too much. Voted Down.
Last year! The people of North East part of Kansas doesn’t want Wichita to have a casino. So the bill allowed two state owned Casinos, one near KC, the other near Pittsburg. They had a provision that blocked Wichita area from having one for 5 years. That didn’t sit pretty well, so it got killed.
The legislators can pass a Casino bill, but they must make it simple and without proliferation of gambling and they also shouldn’t block the Wichita area either. I know the NE people don’t really like us down here, but we are a still a powerhouse for the state that they cannot ignore or shut out.
Sometimes I think that Kansas should be split in half.
Good history and perspective, Joe. I keep forgetting about the NE Ks mission to block Wichita’s economic development. Of course, our Metro Wichita elected officials at the State level don’t seem to have any polical power. What’s up with that?
Joe, ID, some of my information is anicdotal, but I’ve heard some of the bad blood is because of the conduct of our area legislators in the past. In the recent past, Wichita was the economic engine that drove Kansas. While we’re still a driving force, Johnson county is now the state’s economic giant. Legislation is passed through coalition, and our area represenitives don’t seem to be very good at that.
Id, you touch on an interesting subject. Why doesn’t the rest of Kansas like us? I come from north-central Kansas and believe me, Wichita gets very low ratings in the rest of the state. Example: when we went through rate equilization with Westar a few years ago….The rest of the state, especially the northern half, blamed Wichita when their rates went up. Instead of seeing Westar as the enemy, Topeka, Salina, etc. turned on us.
We have an image problem.
Sounds like we need to help our local State legislators be successful at another job. Moderate Republicans may have to vote for Democrats and moderate Democrats may have to temporarily switch parties to vote in Republican primaries.
In many European countries it is normal that state completely controls gambling industry with huge taxes up to 98%!