Nebraska lawmakers face issues on casinos

Kevin O'Hanlon

Friday, Dec. 26, 2003 | 11:35 a.m.

LINCOLN, Neb. -- The rancor and indecision over the push for a casino gambling measure is far from resolved as lawmakers ready for a new session starting Jan. 7.

In an Associated Press pre-session survey of Nebraska's 49 lawmakers, only 20 said they supported the effort in the Legislature to ask voters whether they want to allow casino gambling.

Eight said they were leaning that way.

It would take 30 votes to get the measure on the ballot.

"This is an issue for the voters," said Sen. Don Pederson of North Platte. "It will be our responsibility to put a reasonable suggestion before them."

Nine lawmakers were against the idea and six were leaning that way.

Six senators did not answer the question.

"I'm a historic opponent of gambling, placing limited gambling before voters is preferable to one written by gambling interests," said Sen. Dave Landis of Lincoln.

Sen. Elaine Stuhr of Bradshaw doesn't support expanded gambling.

"In the long run, I believe the social costs are higher than the returns," she said. "People most affected are those who can least afford it."

Lawmakers got a reprieve of sorts in October when the Nebraska Supreme Court gutted a petition effort that would have asked voters to approve video slot machines statewide.

Many lawmakers feared that if the court had allowed the measure on the ballot, it would have taken control of the gambling issue away from the Legislature.

That almost happened last year, when Nebraskans for Local Control gathered 178,000 signatures to put the video-slots initiative on the ballot in November. However, opponents successfully challenged the measure's constitutionality in court, and it did not go before voters.

That proposal would have allowed video slot machines in bars, restaurants, race tracks and keno parlors anywhere in the state, as well as in other designated spots within 20 miles of communities in neighboring states with video gambling.

It also would have prohibited the Legislature from authorizing any form of competing gambling and required that half of proceeds go to local governments, with the money earmarked for property tax relief, local charities, bonuses for teachers and tuition credits for students.

The other half of the proceeds would have gone toward the profits of the machine operators.

But the high court said the proposed constitutional amendment was invalid because its organizers did not have a sworn statement on file with the Secretary of State listing the sponsors of the measure, as required by state law.

A measure (LR11CA) by Sen. Ray Janssen of Nickerson, would ask voters to approve up to eight casinos in Nebraska.

It stalled in the Legislature last session but will be revisited when lawmakers reconvene in January.

Meanwhile, the Nebraska Veterans Council is gathering signatures for a proposal that would allow veterans groups and other nonprofit organizations to sponsor slot machines in bars or restaurants that have a liquor license.

Lawmakers have wrangled over how many casinos should be allowed and what to be done with the new revenue.

When asked what should be done with the gambling revenue, lawmakers' suggestions ranged from putting the money into the state's general fund, aid to education and tax relief.