Following the failure of a measure to bring casino gambling to Georgia, the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Ron Stephens said Wednesday that he was not surprised. “We knew the issue of a veto would come up and we wanted to get the ball rolling, and to be honest, knew it would be a two- or three-year process,” said Stephens, chairman of the House Economic Development Committee.
Stephens’ proposal would allow up to four casinos, including two in Atlanta, to operate in the state with voter approval. However, supporters said the bill has momentum despite the decision by House Speaker David Ralston to table it and Governor Nathan Deal’s opposition to expanded gambling. Stephens first introduced the casino bill in spring 2015, as a way to help the struggling HOPE education program, a merit-based funded through the state lottery. “This is not just about casinos,” he said.
Casino legislation backers said the proposal has a chance if the November elections turn House control over to Republicans. If not, they’ll still require support from Democratic lawmakers. The measure, a constitutional amendment, would require approval from two-thirds of each legislative chamber in order to then place the issue before voters.
While sympathetic to the needs of the HOPE program, anti-gambling lawmakers like state Rep. Paul Battles said they’ll continue to oppose casino gambling. Battles said when Ralston delayed a House floor vote on gambling legislation last month, he told members to talk to people at church. Noted Battles, not one person he spoke to supported casino gambling and he does not expect that to change. “It will always keep coming back and coming back. I don’t know how you can present it any differently than it is,” he said.
