Anti-gambling proposal renewed

Tuesday, March 23, 1999 | 10:06 a.m.

Elizabeth Stoner's proposal to ban gambling was filed Monday with the secretary of state's office and is similar to two others struck down as unconstitutional last year in Hinds County court.

"The gambling industry paints a pretty picture of prosperity and wholesome family living to the community when it asks for our vote," Stoner said.

But she said the industry should be held accountable "if they deliver increased crime, broken homes, escalated suicide rates, new addiction problems, increased alcoholism and rampant prostitution."

The 1990 state law that legalized gambling permitted elections on the issue in counties on the Gulf Coast and the Mississippi River. Gambling has so far been allowed in Hancock and Harrison counties on the coast and Adams, Coahoma, Tunica, Warren and Washington counties on the river.

Mississippi has 30 casinos, including the $650 million Beau Rivage, which opened last week in Biloxi.

Under Stoner's proposal, Mississippians statewide would vote on banning gambling. If passed, casinos would have two years to close.

"I'm disappointed to see it. I thought that issue was behind us," said state Rep. Jim Simpson Jr., R-Gulfport.

Simpson said Harrison County voters opted to have gambling and casinos made large investments in things like hotels and golf courses.

"It's unfair to go back now and treat the industry that way. The people don't want to do away with it," Simpson said.

Stoner wants to use the state's initiative process which allows Mississippians to put constitutional changes to a statewide voted by circulating petitions.

The Mississippi Gaming Association went to court to stop previous Stoner proposals.

The first one was ruled improper because it said if voters passed the ban they could not reconsider the issue for four years. Her second proposal was found illegal because it did not contain an economic impact statement about the loss of state revenue a gambling ban would cause.

Rep. Charlie Smith, I-Eupora, said he supports more debate on gambling.

"All I hear is one side, how great things are, how much money we take in," said Smith, a gambling opponent. "People ought to hear both sides."

If the latest initiative stands up to a legal challenge, Stoner would have to collect the signatures of 98,336 registered voters from Mississippi's five congressional districts. Mississippi Baptists have endorsed the ban, which includes gambling and a lottery.