Reopen casino: Ball likely in Shapleigh's court
January 18, 2009
Tough economic times, such as these, call for finding revenue sources to help fill the till of Texas' present $167 billion budget. And restoring gaming at Texas' Indian casinos, and allowing slot machines at Texas' horse tracks, would bring in billions of dollars in taxes.
Written by Editorial, The El Paso Times
Restoring gaming at El Paso's Speaking Rock Casino may be one of our state delegation's most achievable goals this year.
Tough economic times, such as these, call for finding revenue sources to help fill the till of Texas' present $167 billion budget. And restoring gaming at Texas' Indian casinos, and allowing slot machines at Texas' horse tracks, would bring in billions of dollars in taxes.
Before it was shuttered by then-Attorney General John Cornyn in 2002, Speaking Rock had reached a yearly revenue of $60 million and was a giant plus to El Paso's economy; it employed nearly 800 people.
Where the pressure appears to lie in this legislative session is in the Senate, meaning our front person to achieve our high-priority goal is our state senator, Eliot Shapleigh. He and our five state representatives in the Texas House are unified in pushing a set of highest-priority goals, which includes the reopening of Speaking Rock.
This session the gaming initiative should pass the House. It failed by only one vote in 2007 -- stalled by former Speaker of the House Tom Craddick, R-Midland. This session sees new Speaker of the House Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, having family interests in gaming. His father is chairman of Retama Entertainment Group Inc.. That's one of Texas' major horse tracks and is located in San Antonio.
Most other El Paso delegation goals will ask for money, which will be a tougher sell. It will be difficult this session for virtually all legislators to fill their home-district wish lists, if the proposal calls for expenditures.
One roadblock to Shapleigh in the Texas Senate is a big one. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has been against gambling interests in Texas, and Dewhurst wields a strong hand in what bills reach the Senate floor for a vote.
But Shapleigh is a veteran of the 31-person Texas Senate. He began his seventh session last week and should have the connections among his peers, thus coming through for El Paso.
It will take influence to get gaming restored in Texas. But unlike other sessions, the problem this time does not lie in the House, it lies in the Senate. That's why we have a senator.
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