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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
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March 2005 |
House public policy committee votes down gambling bill
INDIANAPOLIS - Good news from the Indiana State House of Representatives Committee on Public Policy and Veterans Affairs. The committee voted down HB1569 by a 7-4 margin. This bill would have permitted the expansion of gambling by allowing Indiana's two horse racing tracks to install up to 2,500 slot machines each. As it came to the committee, HB1569 was written to provide funds from gambling to build a new stadium in Indianapolis, replacing the RCA Dome where the Indianapolis Colts play.
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Other proposals to expand gambling in a similar way could come in later as riders to existing bills. |
According to the Indianapolis Star, Rep. Bob Alderman, R - Fort Wayne, committee chairman, further stated that he doesn't want to see any more bills like this, (perhaps in reference to HB1702 another gambling bill).
The sense of the committee was that raising revenue for a new stadium and the expansion of the Indianapolis Convention Center through gambling revenues in other counties was inappropriate. Gambling opponents warned that this bill defeated in committee does not mean this is absolutely the last word on gambling in the General Assembly this session. Other proposals to expand gambling in a similar way could come in later as riders to existing bills.
In other related legislative action, HB1342 , a bill to provide research on the impact of gaming, passed the House Public Policy and Veteran's Affairs Committee 13 to 0. The bill would require the department of gaming research to study the impact of gaming in Indiana on Indiana's citizens and communities. The bill was strongly supported by the Indiana Coalition Against Legalized Gambling.
Meanwhile, the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee voted a finance package to fund the building of a new stadium in Indianapolis without the expansion of gambling. Chairman Jeff Espich, R-Uniondale, unveiled the measure Feb. 23, calling it a partnership among the state, the city and those who benefit most from the stadium - the team, the players and fans.
This stadium plan would have raised $44 million a year to fund a 63,000-seat stadium south of the RCA Dome. The bill called for increases in Marion County hotel and car rental taxes, a $10 ticket tax and new fees on player salaries and luxury suites.
HB1846 died in the House because it was not considered before midnight March 1. Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Garton told news sources that there is support for a new stadium in the Senate.
The bill would have left Indianapolis short by roughly $5 million a year for the stadium, and portions of the measure could threaten the 30-year lease agreement between the city and the Colts.
Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson will continue pushing for $23 million in annual Convention Center funding. The Indiana casino industry raised concerns about increasing riverboat taxes, and the state horse-racing industry was upset that a drive to put slot machines at the state's two horse tracks stalled.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008