In Nebraska, gaming opponents Gambling with the Good Life want to stop gaming proponents Keep the Money in Nebraska from placing expanded gambling proposals on the November 2016 ballot. Last year, Gambling with the Good Life’s efforts resulted in the state Supreme Court invalidating a ballot measure that would have allowed historic racing machines at racetracks. Keep the Money in Nebraska recently began collecting signatures in a petition drive to let voters decide three issues: amending the state constitution so voters may legalize casinos through ballot measures; changing state law to officially allow casinos and create a state Gaming and Racing Commission; and requiring casinos to pay a one-time state licensing fee of million plus pay a 20 percent tax on gross gambling revenue, of which 75 percent would go to the state and 25 percent would go to the local government.
Gambling with the Good Life Executive Director Pat Loontjer said, “Nothing’s off the table. We’re going to fight this tooth and nail, because we’re fighting for our children and grandchildren. It’s not about the money.” Currently Nebraska allows keno, horse racing and a lottery.
Last year, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled the historic-racing measure violated the constitution by asking one yes-or-no ballot question for two issues: whether to allow the machines and how the tax revenue would be spent. Loontjer said like last year, the group will look for possible legal challenges to the ballot measure, and also follow and videotape petition circulators in case they violate state rules.
Keep the Money in Nebraska spokesman, former state Senator Scott Lautenbaugh, said he believes the new petitions can stand up to a legal challenge. Attorneys “went over them with a fine-toothed comb,” he said. He noted casino gambling would generate $90 million to $100 million annually in tax revenue for local and state governments, which could help pay for bridges, roads, schools and property tax relief. He said the group’s name comes from “the reality that Nebraska is surrounded by states that have gambling.” According to Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission figures, Nebraska residents generated nearly $327 million in gross revenue for Iowa casinos in 2013.
Lautenbaugh said the group has been gathering signatures at Nebraska football games, festivals and other large events. It has a July 7, 2016 deadline to submit signatures for each measure. So far Keep the Money in Nebraska has raised $255,000, primarily from Ho-Chunk Inc., the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Ho-Chunk wants to operate a casino at the South Sioux City racetrack Atokad Downs, which closed in 2012.
Petition sponsors are Keep the Money in Nebraska, Ho-Chunk, the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association and Omaha Exposition & Racing Inc.
