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Granite State Coalition
Against Expanded Gambling
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Gambling industry lobbyists are spinning Governor Lynch's comments reported in yesterday's Portsmouth Herald (below) as meaning that he would accept one or two casinos. The spinners are ignoring the Governor's wise warning that a single casino anywhere would simply lead to proliferation of slot machines and casinos statewide, as it has in every other casino state.
The House should promptly reject SB489 - which would bury New Hampshire under 6 casinos and 17,000 slot machines, more slot machines per capita than any other state East of the Mississippi - and go to work finding a responsible budget solution.
Casino money will not be available to fix current budget problems:
Casino financial backers will not allow license money to be released from escrow into the general fund until all state and local approvals are granted to build and operate the casino. These approvals require: state regulations written, revised, and approved; AG investigation and criminal background checks completed; referendum approval by local voters; local planning and zoning approvals for temporary and/or permanent facilities; selection and testing of the central computer system; litigation and appeals won. Multiple entities are already teed up to litigate on constitutional and other grounds. This process will require two years, plus.
Reasons we oppose SB489, saturating the state with 6 casinos and 17,000 slots.
Reasons we oppose SB490, legalizing 3 "historic racing" slot casinos.
23 Reasons we oppose any type of slot casino anywhere in our state.
Lynch: No to gambling bill
Governor is unhappy with Senate vote
Dave Choate
Portsmouth Herald
March 26, 2010
PORTSMOUTH - Gov. John Lynch vowed Thursday to stop an expanded gambling bill from becoming law if it receives the approval of the full Legislature, and he expressed concerns over its passage by the Senate this week.
The Herald asked Lynch whether he would veto the bill if it ended up on his desk.
"I will do what it takes to have it not become law," Lynch said.
While in the city to speak at the annual meeting of the Service Credit Union, Lynch gave reasons for his opposition to Senate Bill 489, which cleared the Senate with a 14-10 vote Wednesday.
Lynch said he's concerned the bill would lead to a proliferation of expanded gambling, noting that six sites around the state, including the Seabrook Greyhound Park, had already been selected before a single slot machine is installed.
The governor also took issue with the bill bypassing the 15-member commission he formed by executive order last summer to study gambling in the state. The commission, which includes Portsmouth Mayor Tom Ferrini, is expected to deliver its report in May. Lynch said it wasn't "appropriate" for gambling legislation to pass before the commission had a chance to weigh in, especially in the form of the current bill.
"I don't support the bill. I made it clear to legislative leaders," he said.
Lynch said the charge before the commission, to examine various models for the expansion of gaming in New Hampshire and determine their feasibility, costs and potential economic benefits, will not change.
Lynch said he also was concerned that if gambling is expanded in the state, it will be nearly impossible to get rid of it even if the promised economic benefits don't materialize.
"Once it's here, it's here forever," he said.
The bill allows for 17,000 video slot machines and table games, with proponents such as Sen. Lou D'Alessandro, D-Manchester, arguing that it would produce jobs and revenues that can offset heavy cuts in services for the Department of Health and Human Services and other departments. Opponents argue that it will change New Hampshire's quality of life.
The bill will next go before the House, which has previously defeated bills that would have expanded gambling in the state. |
