New Jersey wants seat on fed gaming panel

Monday, Oct. 14, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

They are lobbying the White House to name someone from New Jersey to the independent commission. Seven of the nine members have yet to be chosen.

"Certainly New Jersey should be represented on the commission, since we are the second-largest gaming jurisdiction in the U.S.," Bradford S. Smith, chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, told The Press of Atlantic City in Sunday's editions.

"We have 18 years of experience in the industry. We can bring that experience to the table to benefit the commission," said Smith, one of several people named as possible representatives for the Garden State.

The National Gambling Impact Study Commission, created by Congress, is charged with examining the economic and social implications of legalized gambling.

Opponents of the study say they fear the commission's underlying agenda is to federally regulate and tax the industry. They hope their say would prevent such measures.

"I've been working with the White House. I have sought assurances a New Jersey person will be on the commission," Rep. Robert Torricelli, D-Englewood, told the newspaper.

"I thought the commission was unnecessary. But since Congress has created it, I think it's important New Jersey have representation if there's possible taxation of the industry or a federal regulatory scheme," said Torricelli, a Democratic candidate for Senate.

The president, House speaker and the Senate majority leader each will name three members to the commission.

The commission has subpoena power and may investigate any relationship between gambling and crime and gambling's impact on families and the national economy.

The panel would file its report within three years.

While gambling industry officials clamor to be included on the commission, gambling opponents say they want to make sure the commission is not stacked with industry "ringers."

Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., the sponsor of the bill that created the commission, said Thursday he was concerned by reports of two possible pro-gambling appointments to the commission.

White House aides last week interviewed Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman Bill Bible for one of President Clinton's three choices on the panel. Bible is the chief regulator of gambling in Nevada.

Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev., who is being allowed by House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., to select one of the three House appointments, is considering MGM Grand Inc. Chairman J. Terrence Lanni and state Sen. Mark James of Las Vegas, but has not yet chosen.

The deadline for appointments to the commission was Oct. 3, but only two selections have been made.

Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., appointed Paul Moore, a Mississippi radiologist, who said he is neutral on the subject of gambling, and James Dobson, president of Focus on the Family, a conservative group.