Tag: Delaware Casinos
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., June 24, 2014
I really didn’t think this would happen, and, I must admit, I’m almost stunned that the General Assembly would choose political expediency over our deteriorating infrastructure. The Governor is not exempt from criticism. Far from it. Jack Markell (a) waited until an election year to play a game of chicken on infrastructure spending; (b) likened the need to continue our ongoing periodic road maintenance program to swallowing bitter medicine rather than pointing out the benefits to our state’s economy from having those great construction jobs; and (c) decided to (pardon the expression) muddy the waters by making this a two-fer with a proposed clean water initiative. Horrible messaging, horrible staff work.
Still, I never expected the Delaware General Assembly, by dint of deliberate inaction, to blow (at least) a $70 million hole in the annual transportation capital budget. $70 million less spent on keeping our roads and bridges drivable in FY 15 than was spent in FY 14. (Well, maybe $60 mill, should the Honorables hike weekend tolls on Rt. 1.) This is blatant dereliction of duty. From the ridiculous (Valerie Longhurst proclaiming that she simply won’t allow a gas tax increase) to the equally-ridiculous (Greengrocer Hocker claiming that, since the D’s can’t pass this by themselves, he’s not going to ‘help’ them). Never mind everybody who drives in this state who will suffer the consequences. I’ve been around a long time. This Profile in Cowardice ranks near the top of the most cynical gestures ever to emerge from Dover. When the roads become pockmarked, you know who to blame. Call them on it. And if you live in one of these idiots’ districts, and you have the chance, vote against them.
While ignoring public safety, the Honorables appear poised to provide another $10 million to help bail out the bad business decisions made by greedy racino millionaires who were literally given licenses to steal by the State. Who could possibly argue that our legislative luminaries have their priorities in order? Looks like we’re headed towards a horrible conclusion to what has generally been a good legislative session.
The Lottery and Gaming Study Commission = The Fix Is In to Bail Out Casinos
This study commission — created when the GA and the Governor decided to help improve the balance sheets of our local casinos who are being hurt by rising costs (who isn’t, really?) and by a failed competitive stance in a market where we are surrounded by a glut of gaming options. This Commission met for the first time on Tuesday — and tell me if you can spot why I think the fix is in:
Zombie Casino Alert! Part IV (Studying Our Failures Episode)
The end of this legislative session finds Delaware taxpayers footing an $8M bill to help the local casinos pay the increased costs of their equipment providers who are apparently paid with a percentage of the casino’s profits. Casinos now pay those vendors 6% of the profits for equipment and machines and expect to pay 10% after these contracts are re-upped. In addition, Epilogue language provided for a new Lottery and Gaming Study Commission
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., May 16, 2013
Your last legislative fix for almost three weeks, so savor it!
In a Dog Bites Man story, Sen. Colin Bonini sided with the oil polluters, casting the only ‘no’ vote against legislation eliminating a monetary cap on company liability for damages caused by an oil spill. Bloviator Bonini has suffered a precipitous decline in ink this session, having ceded his senatorial Hot Air Hegemony to Monsignor Greg Lavelle. I, for one, feel sorry for the disheartened former champion, and intend to do everything within my power to rehabilitate his diminished stature (I’m speaking figuratively, of course). The Comedic Gods demand it.
Probably the biggest news of the day is what didn’t happen:
1. Bill adding 2 more casinos doesn’t make it out of committee. Nobody has clean hands in this game. Just read today’s News-Journal article about it. Which I can’t link. Because even though we still buy the dead trees edition, the online access is screwed up, and I’m still limited to only 5 articles a month. Except the month doesn’t begin and end at the beginning and ending of the month. Hate to say it, but this enterprise has earned obsolescence, alienating the few of us who still believe in newspapers. But, I digress. Williams claims to have the support of Governor Markell, but the Executive branch provides weasel words instead (I’m typing this word for word from today’s print edition):
“The Governor always looks forward to discussing proposals with the sponsors and supporters to understand how proposals might add to the state’s revenue and economy.”
Which raises this question: Rep. Dennis E. Williams, overly-optimistic or delusional? For better or for worse, I don’t think this bill is going anywhere.
Zombie Casino Alert! Part III (or the New Legislative Session Episode)
This morning’s NJ has a great piece of reporting from Chad Livengood and Doug Denison, detailing the current state of Delaware’s casino industry as well as the current positions a number of our politicians have staked out on how to best support this industry.
Zombie Casino Alert! Part II
Another article in the NJ today provides some information on the purported losses to Delaware casinos as a result of the added competition from Maryland and Pennsylvania. An industry group points to a 2.5% loss of revenue over 2010 numbers, while the casinos point to a 13% loss in revenues for slots.
Zombie Casino Alert!
It’s not quite the Zombie Apocalpyse (Casino Edition), but Delaware’s casinos have formally asked for the state to make them healthy. Or, at least, healthier. According to this NJ article, Delaware’s casinos will be asking for givebacks to the tune of $10M on licence fees as well as for the state to reduce the taxes on the games and slots.
Calling Out the House’s Casino Opponents
Which is what Representative Dennis E. Williams does in his piece in the NJ this AM called House Bill 146 would create more jobs than Bloom Energy.
The Delaware Racetrack Protection Racket
The effort to bring two new casinos (HB 40) to Delaware was voted down in the House Gaming & Parimutuels Committee on a 6-5 vote.
HB194 Not Being Worked Thursday
Just saw this in my email about this bill that would authorize two more casinos.
Two More Casinos
That is going to be the proposal from Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf in an amendment to House Bill 194 that he is filing today for debate on Thursday. This is the entirety of the Press Release from the Delaware House of Representatives House Majority Caucus:
DE Sports and Video Lottery Commission Recommends Against New Casinos
…or — perhaps we should call this Watching the Delaware Legislature Put Their Ninny Hats On. Ginger Gibson at the News Journal documents the atrocities.
This is a completely mind-boggling recommendation by this Commission and flies in the face of the recommendations (and data gathered) by their own commissioned study:
Several lawmakers insisted that any financial harm to the existing racetracks was unacceptable, even if job losses there were compensated for with new jobs at new venues.
The Casino Report Is In
And apparently lots of people are not happy about this result. The NJ has the story.
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