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.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Live Blog: Pacquiao wins by TKO in round twelve
- Police seek man who stole $2,000 worth of clothing
- Clubs want to be ‘good citizen,’ so stripper-mobile ends its run
- Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao: The only fight fans want to see
- Now we can all see Islamic extremism for what it truly is
- Nuclear plant in Ely could complicate radioactive waste, water issues
- Bruised and battered, Cotto says he will fight again
- Boulder City struggles with shocking allegations
- Ensign Federal Credit Union fails
- Manny Pacquiao says he feels stronger than ever
Blogs
Elsewhere
Dana White continues to push for event in Abu Dhabi
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Harry Reid is powerful for Northern Nevada, too!
The Kats Report
New face of Monte Carlo includes all the faces of Caliendo
The Greene Room
Predicting this weekend's Mountain West football slate (2 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
Top Chef Episode 11: Child's play
Miech Again
UNLV prez Smatresk is ready for some basketball (11 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Harry Reid's fourth TV ad begins running today
Calendar »
- 15 Sun
- 16 Mon
- 17 Tue
- 18 Wed
- 19 Thu
-
Actor's Expo at Rave Motion Pictures
Rave Motion Pictures Town Square 18 | 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
-
Lily Tomlin at the Hollywood Theatre
Hollywood Theatre at MGM Grand
-
Neil Sedaka at the Orleans
Orleans Hotel-Casino
-
Supernatural Santana – A Trip Through the Hits at The Joint
The Joint
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati





