In a recently released statement, the conservative Christian organization Wisconsin Family Action said it was “disappointed” that Governor Scott Walker “appears to have abandoned his promise to Wisconsin voters not to approve the Menominee Tribe’s proposed 0 million off-reservation casino resort in casino in Kenosha.
The group, whose mission is “strengthening, preserving and promoting marriage, family, life and liberty,” noted Walker previously had listed three criteria for allowing the new casino: The casino must have local support, it must offer “no new net gaming” and Wisconsin’s 11 sovereign tribes must approve it.
WFA president Julaine Appling said the organization is pleased the Kenosha casino could be denied because of its projected financial impact on the state’s budget. However, she noted Walker had said the Menominee would close one of their two existing facilities if the Kenosha casino is approved. Appling said, “One of the issues we are weighing is whether or not replacing a dog track with revenues of $20-25 million and closing a casino with 30 slot machines to open a casino generating an estimated $454 million in revenue and 3,100 slot machines represents an increase in net gambling. Do these two smaller operations actually offset the increase in gambling in the much larger proposed casino?”
Appling also raised concerns about an existing agreement between the Menominee Tribe and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. A 2004 memorandum of understanding allowed casino workers to form a union if 50 percent plus one of the workers signed on. Appling said WFA recently asked Department of Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch whether that memorandum of understanding would be legally binding if Walker ultimately approves the casino.
“On Friday, Secretary Huebsch responded by saying that the DOA does not have any records responsive to our request. It is both disturbing and disappointing that neither the Walker administration nor the tribes proposing the new casino will tell the public whether or not such an agreement exists.” Appling said WFA is concerned workers would be “stripped of their rights” and not be allowed to cast a secret ballot during a union vote if the agreement were upheld.
“The longer this issue drags on, the more we learn that disturbs us. The bottom line is Wisconsin and her best resource—families—don’t need another casino. The evidence is mounting that this proposed casino is a really bad bet for our state,” Appling said.
