Gambling opponents in New Hampshire fight Senate move

Gene Johnson

Tuesday, May 2, 2000 | 1:06 a.m.

CONCORD, N.H. - Opponents of expanded gambling have pretty good odds for defeating a bill that may come before the House on Thursday, but they aren't taking anything for granted.

A group that included likely gubernatorial candidates from both parties held a news conference Tuesday to urge lawmakers not to consider the bill, which would allow video gambling at the state's four racetracks and at two hotels.

"This bill was handed to me when I was attorney general five years ago," said Jeff Howard, who may run for the Republican nomination. "I threw it in the trash. ... I hope the House of Representatives is going to do the same thing this year."

The Senate passed the bill last month. It would raise about $198 million while cutting property taxes from $6.60 to $6 per $1,000 of assessed value and getting rid of the state's 18 percent inheritance tax.

Lawmakers have long condemned the inheritance tax as unfair and unconstitutional, but they worried about how to replace the $25 million it raises every year.

The Senate passed the bill even though the House said it would not consider any gambling bills until next year at the earliest. It would take a two-thirds majority Thursday to introduce it.

"I think it's a longshot," said House Speaker Donna Sytek, a gambling opponent. "The House has traditionally been a firewall against gambling, and I haven't sensed any change of opinion."

Opponents say video gambling is the most addictive form of gambling. They say it leads to increases in domestic violence, theft, embezzlement, child abuse and suicide, among other things, and the people who gamble most are those who can least afford it.

The Granite State Coalition Against Expanded Gambling, which held the news conference, also cited a congressionally commissioned study released last summer. It urged states not to introduce video gambling at racetracks as a way to revitalize the tracks.

But some senators who supported expanded gambling say it's an ideal solution to the state's budget shortfall, caused by its new school-funding law. Sen. John King, D-Manchester, likened the proposal to a voluntary tax.

"If you don't want to play, you don't have to play," he said.

Republican Fred King of Colebrook said gambling opponents are in denial about the budget problem. Raising the property tax to $9.50 might be the only other way to fix it, he said.

Supporters of expanded gambling planned to hold a news conference Wednesday to respond.

Democratic Sen. Mark Fernald of Sharon, who plans to run for governor, said the money raised by expanding gambling just wouldn't be worth it.

"We have a great quality of life in New Hampshire," Fernald said. "Why do we want to risk it?"