Casino gambling, which is illegal in Georgia, has become an issue in the May 22 Democratic primary race for governor. Former state Rep. Stacey Evans said she supports casino gambling to help reverse cuts to the HOPE scholarship program. She’s trailing ex-House Minority Leader Stacey Adams in the polls, and criticized her for not sponsoring a bipartisan effort allowing casino gambling with some proceeds going to the scholarship program. Evans said, “My opponent declined to sign casino legislation that would have given students needs-based aid. I am the candidate who will consistently stand up for needs-based aid.”
Last year, legislation was proposed to legalize several destination resorts in the state. Both Governor Nathan Deal and House Speaker David Ralston opposed the bill and it did not move forward. Abrams did not sponsor the measure but said Democrats only would support casino gambling if Republicans agreed to use casino revenue for a new needs-based program for HOPE.
Abrams does not promote casino gambling revenue as the way to raise funds to expand HOPE. Instead, she has pushed for more efficient sales tax collection, eliminating some tax breaks and ending a tax credit program for private school scholarships. Abrams holds a 2-to-1 advantage over Evans, according to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Channel 2 poll, but more than half of likely Democratic primary voters are undecided. AJC polls consistently show most Georgia voters back casino gambling if the proceeds help fund HOPE.
In 2011, Republican legislators led an effort to reduce the scholarship awards, citing the move as a way to save the program. Evans’ campaign highlights her promise to reverse those cuts, and she has portrayed Abrams as willing to side with Republicans to slash the program. Evans said if she had been the House’s top Democrat in 2011, she would have teamed up with Senate Democrats who opposed the changes.
In response, Abrams said her efforts helped prevent even deeper cuts to HOPE and helped stop a test-scoring requirement. Abrams’ campaign released emails showing Evans and Abrams worked together on the HOPE project. Deal’s Chief of Staff Chris Riley noted Abrams and Evans “both worked separately with Governor Deal and the Republican majority.”
All five of leading Republican contenders for governor oppose casino gambling. Some said it would lead to more crime and gambling problems.
