Iowa panel OKs table games at racetracks

Amy Lorentzen

Wednesday, March 24, 2004 | 8:51 a.m.

DES MOINES, Iowa -- It could be weeks before the Iowa Senate debates a gambling bill as lawmakers await a settlement involving the state's tax rate for casinos.

The House last month passed a bill that would allow Iowa racetracks to add table games such as poker and blackjack, but would retain a moratorium on new riverboat casinos.

Some Senate lawmakers have promised to amend the bill to lift that moratorium, but the bill sailed through a Senate committee on Tuesday without amendment.

Lawmakers have been hesitant to tinker with the House bill while the tax issue is still pending.

Sen. John Kibbie, D-Emmetsburg, voted against the bill, saying changes need to be made in committee, not when the bill is delivered for debate.

"The committee's purpose around here has always been to fix and perfect bills and take public comment," he said. "One of the important functions of the Legislature is the process, and the process is not being followed."

Senate Republicans want to get the bill through the committee process, including the Ways and Means Committee today, to allow the entire Senate to tackle the issues, said committee Chairman Sen. Mark Zieman, R-Postville.

"This is a big enough issue that I don't know if the committee can make the decision for everybody else," he said. "Everybody is going to get their say on the floor."

The bill was proposed as lawmakers work toward a tentative settlement to a lawsuit in which racetracks challenged the state's casino tax structure -- and won.

The state wound up owing the racetracks as much as $165 million in overpaid taxes. House lawmakers struck a deal, approving the addition of table games at racetrack casinos if the racetracks forgave the debt.

Some lawmakers have said a Senate bill adding new casino licenses could unravel that agreement.

Senate Majority Leader Stewart Iverson, R-Dows, said he wants the racetracks to sign the settlement before the Senate debates the bill.

"If we don't have a signed contract, anybody can change their mind," he said.

Gov. Tom Vilsack has said he will support whatever bill lawmakers send to him.