Editorial: Texans deserve a vote on legalized casino gambling

Friday, March 18, 2011  

"First, let’s dispense with a common misconception: The Texas Legislature cannot simply pass a bill that would legalize casino gambling in our fair state.

Only a majority of registered Texas voters can do that.

Oh, it’s not as if the Legislature isn’t involved, and that’s why you’ve still not had your say.

What the Legislature must pass — by two-thirds majorities in the Senate and House — is a constitutional amendment that then goes before voters.

Gov. Rick Perry could not get between you and that vote, a good thing since he has consistently opposed adding casinos to Texas’ otherwise-pro-business palette.

This, too, is why pro-gambling lobbyists have ramped up efforts. A recent Dallas Morning News review shows more than 50 of them earning $2.7 million to $4.5 million from interests that hope to persuade lawmakers to let something reach the voting public.

We wish them well, with limited optimism, for reasons well known to anyone who has marveled at the number of Texas license plates in Oklahoma and Louisiana casino lots.

Some Texans are going to gamble. They’ll drive to Shreveport-Bossier City or north to the Red River. They’ll go to New Mexico or fly into the Nevada desert."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Texans deserve a chance to legalize casino gambling (The Dallas Morning News 3/16)