Casino gambling in Georgia faces strong opposition
Legislation on the matter suffered a blow after Speaker David Ralston delayed its vote in the House of Representatives.
US.- Last week at the House of Representatives in Georgia, Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, delayed the vote on legislation that would allow up to four casinos to operate around the state, with the approval from citizens statewide. Gov. Nathan Deal also opposes the initiative.
Rep. Ron Stephens, a Savannah Republican, first introduced this legislation in 2015 highlighting that casinos would financially support the state’s merit-based HOPE scholarship, which provide all-expenses-paid college education for Georgians at public institutions. “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.
Rep. Stacey Evans, D-Smyrna, who co-sponsor the proposal stated: “We must make sure that we allocate the funds to their highest and best use. For me, that means using the funds for higher education assistance, with some portion designated to help those students with demonstrated financial need.”
If fall elections don’t significantly change the House’s landscape, casino supporters will still need help from Democrats to give voters the opportunity to amend Georgia’s constitution lifting the ban on gambling. To carry out constitutional amendments the approval from two-thirds of each legislative chamber is needed before it gets a statewide ballot. Republicans don’t hold that margin at the House, whilst the chamber’s Democrats may see an opportunity to push for financial help to college students based on need, not just academic skill as in the HOPE program.
