Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Observers Say Gambling Referendum May Be Doomed

The first hurdle the coalition called Michigan First! must cross is collecting more than 247,000 signatures by May 31.

"I would say it's very difficult, if not impossible. They're getting it off the ground late," said Bill Ballenger, editor of the "Inside Michigan Politics" newsletter.

The group announced plans Saturday to get a proposal allowing up to three Detroit casinos on the state ballot in November.

Even if supporters do collect the necessary signatures, Ballenger said, the issue could move to the courts if the state Board of Canvassers, which certifies the signatures, reaches a tie.

Or if enough signatures are collected, the proposal would go to the state Legislature. If it is rejected there - a likely possibility, according to a spokesman for Gov. John Engler - the measure would go on the November ballot.

"We're confident it won't pass," said John Truscott. "They'll have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to collect the signatures. If they're willing to spend boatloads of money, you have to wonder what their true motivations are."

Michigan First! spokesman Gabe Werba said the group has coordinators statewide and is confident it will succeed.

"We've hired some of the top firms in the nation and we have a lot of signature gatherers," he said. "We wouldn't have gone into this if we had any reservations."

But some observers questioned the wisdom of the group's tactics.

Lansing pollster Ed Sarpolus said a statewide vote on gambling could hurt Democrats in November. Democrats who support the measure risk losing the support of outstate voters who do not, he said.

And Detroit political consultant Adolph Mongo said the timing is poor. Casino supporters should wait until Engler leaves office to push the issue and elect a governor who favors casinos in Detroit, he said.

Supporters say Detroit casinos would create thousands of jobs and generate millions of dollars.

But under their proposal, Indian tribes wouldn't have to keep paying the state millions of dollars from slot-machine revenues in their northern Michigan casinos. That's part of an agreement Engler signed with seven tribes in 1993.

Tribes in Michigan paid the state $26 million from casino profits in 1995.

The proposal would require casino companies to pay licensing fees. And it would set up a state gaming board to regulate casino licensing and operation.

Detroit voters in 1994 approved building casinos in the city. But Engler vetoed both Indian and non-Indian casinos last June.

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