House GOP seeks better relations with casinos

Friday, June 18, 1999 | 10:24 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- House Republican leaders were to meet today with MGM Grand Inc. Chairman Terry Lanni in an attempt to improve relations with the casino industry.

Among those participating in the 1:30 p.m. meeting, arranged by Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., were House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois, Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas and Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Gibbons and two other gaming allies in the House, Rep. Frank LoBiondo of Illinois and Rep. Jerry Weller of Illinois, also planned to be on hand for the gathering, which was to take place in Hastert's office. Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association, also was to attend.

Lanni, who last week said he wanted to see the Democrats regain control of the House in 2000, was here for the release of the National Gambling Impact Study Commission's report.

The MGM Grand boss was appointed to the nine-member panel by former GOP Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia. Lanni is not alone in his unhappiness with House Republicans.

Mirage Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn recently donated $250,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as part of his desire to see the Democrats back in charge of the House. Wynn this week called House Republican leaders "nincompoops" in an interview published by Business Week.

Fahrenkopf said today's meeting with Lanni was set up so Lanni could brief the GOP leaders about the federal commission's findings and air his concerns about the perception the Republican-controlled House had turned anti-gaming.

"Members of the Republican leadership want to do what they can to mend what appears to be a problem between them and the gaming industry," Fahrenkopf said.

Added Gibbons: "This is my opportunity to help rebuild the relationship between the industry and the House Republicans."

Most of the criticism among Republicans is coming from Rep. Frank Wolf of Virginia, who this week proposed a 1 percent national gaming tax to fund gambling addiction treatment.

"I believe that Frank Wolf is a one-man act," Gibbons said. "I don't believe he represents the views of the Republican Party and its leadership in the House."

Gibbons said he hopes to bring Hastert, who has two riverboat casinos in his district, Armey and other House leaders to Nevada to see how the industry works first-hand. Armey has been to Las Vegas before on campaign trips.

"I'm committed to making sure that the state of Nevada is understood and appreciated," Gibbons said.

Both Lanni and Wynn, though down on House Republicans, have cordial ties with Senate Republicans.