South Carolina House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford says he plans to introduce legislation to allow casinos to help pay for billion the state needs to raise to pay for road repairs.
When Governor Nikki Haley, a Republican recently unveiled her roads plan, she left out the part about how to pay for it, something that Rutherford, a Democrat, quickly jumped on. He would like to put the question to the voters in November in the form of a non-binding referendum. He says 80 percent of his party’s voters support the gaming solution.
“Anyone who loves individual freedom, personal liberty, and lower taxes should get behind this issue 110 percent,” Rutherford told the State. He favors Myrtle Beach for a casino due to its beachside and golfing attractions. He would like to see up to three large casinos and does not favor smaller casinos to avoid, “a gambling dump with slot machines in every gas station.”
Haley is running for reelection on the same ballot that Rutherford would like to put the casino referendum. She opposes casinos. According to a spokesman, “The governor, like the majority of South Carolinians, doesn’t support casino gambling and will never take any action that allows it to happen here.”
