Gambling debate hits hills of W.Va.

Fredreka Schouten

Wednesday, July 14, 1999 | 11:55 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- In West Virginia, gambling has exploded as a hot political issue and a potent political force.

The battle, which raged in the state's legislature earlier this year, has shifted to the rolling, peaceful countryside that is home to the Greenbrier, the posh hotel that for decades has catered the nation's rich and famous.

Faced with dwindling visitors and revenues during the winter months, the luxury resort wants to transform a once-secret bomb shelter, built to house Congress in the event of nuclear war, into the state's first casino.

Voters in Greenbrier County will decide whether to authorize the guest-only casino at the luxury resort. No date has been set for the vote, but religious conservatives who regard gambling as immoral are gearing up to oppose the referendum. Proponents, too, will push to convince voters that the casino will create jobs and tax benefits for a state with some of the nation's highest poverty.

Greenbrier officials, who did not return repeated telephone calls, already have demonstrated their political muscle. State legislators who paved the way for the Greenbrier referendum received more than $42,000 from hotel officials alone last year, compared to a skimpy $1,450 in 1996, according to the West Virginia Citizens' Action Group.

Overall, campaign contributions from pro-gambling forces -- ranging from racetrack owners to the Greenbrier's political action committee, skyrocketed in the last two years.

State political leaders netted $200,000 from them in 1998, a jump from $60,000 in 1996, said Norm Steenstra, who monitors campaign contributions for the citizens' action group.

"It's the single biggest explosion of special-interests money I've seen in 10 years," Steenstra said.

The 1998 figure rivaled the state's powerful coal industry, which gave almost $240,000, he said.