VansOpinion - CASINO PETITIONS CAN BE NEUTERED

It is truly amazing that 49 members of Nebraska's Unicameral Legislature will allow a variety of special interest groups to intimidate and threaten them regarding legalizing casino gambling in our state. Senators, if you want to neuter all of those petitions, let me tell you how. Gambling is a state issue, and since I am a candidate for the House of Representatives, whether I am personally for or against gambling in Nebraska is irrelevant. The following therefore is only one person's observations on how the Unicameral might deal with the subject of allowing the opening up of casino gambling in our state and regulating it.

One thing certain, the Dean of Devious Doings, the Master of Malarkey, the Outrageous Orator from Omaha, can tie the "body" in knots anytime he pleases, simply because the other 48 do not have the courage to take him on - head on - and out maneuver him. Why not use his tricks to do-in gambling petitions even before folks start signing the pages circulated by paid solicitors. W.W.E.D. (What Would Ernie Do)

First, he would figure out just exactly what it would take to make casinos not only unprofitable to the extent no one would build or operate one in Nebraska, then he would formulate a series of amendments to any bill alive so as to not only kill that bill, but destroy the chances of a casino ever being built in the Cornhusker State EVEN IF A PETITION DRIVE GETS THE ISSUE ON THE BALLOT AND IT PASSES!

Second, just to fill the legislative chamber with senatorial smoke, he might offer an amendment which would legalize prostitution in any casino that might be built or operated in our state after the effective date of this law. That would mobilize almost all of the hard core religious folks and "start their engines" (no pun intended Judy Ohmygoshkeybosh).

A second amendment having the appearance of "motherhood and apple pie" would follow which would state something like this: "Any casino which shall be opened for business within the geographic borders of the State of Nebraska shall pay to the General Fund of such state Ninety per cent of its gross income, payable in a monthly installments." I guarantee each of you that no casino would, if such a law was passed, ever be built in Husker land.

Then, to further stifle any successful "petition" effort, he would introduce another amendment which would prohibit smoking and the sale of alcoholic beverages in any casino operated in Nebraska after this act becomes law.

If any member of the legislature has the leadership ability to get these amendments passed into law, no one in their right mind would even take the time to go after the requisite number of signatures to put the casino issue on the ballot.

Bottom line, as a state senator, each of you can not afford to let any group do an end-run on the legislature and pave the way for unregulated legalized casino gambling via a petition drive and a successful vote on a constitutional amendment

.Whether or not you are personally for casino gambling in Nebraska, I think every one would agree, that if there is even the slightest chance a petition drive leading to the possible passage of a constitutional amendment which would permit open CASINO GAMBLING IN Nebraska, steps should be taken now to insure such would BE APPROPRIATELY REGULATED BY STATE LAW! Follow the outline above and you will neuter any petition drive even before it starts and will stifle the issue at least for another years, if not longer.