Iverson: Put casinos where voters want them
Published: 05/17/2005 4:46 PM
Updated: 05/17/2005 4:46 PM
By:
Associated Press - Associated Press
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<!--Last Updated: 20050517T164306-0500-->DES MOINES, IA - A legislative leader and the head of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission are divided over more gambling in Iowa.
The commission last week approved four new casinos for Waterloo, Emmetsburg, Riverside and Worth County and rejected bids from Fort Dodge, Ottumwa and Franklin County.
Senate Republican Leader Stewart Iverson, of Dows, said state regulators should allow up to seven casinos.
"I am not a big pro-gambling individual, but I see nothing wrong with letting all seven counties have gambling," Iverson said Monday. "I guess I am not afraid of competition. Let them all have it. We have gambling in Iowa. What difference does it make? I don't see why we have to protect one casino from competition."
But commission Chairwoman Diane Hamilton, of Storm Lake, said the board was sticking with its decision.
"We need to see how these licensees do before we issue more," Hamilton said. "I think we have to have some integrity. We made our decision, and we need to live with it."
Gov. Tom Vilsack suggested late last week that the commission should reconsider its decision to deny a license for the $40 million Wild Rose Ottumwa casino project.
Vilsack aide Matt Paul said Monday that the governor simply wanted Ottumwa to know his stance because he was familiar with the community's economic difficulties as a longtime public official from Mount Pleasant in southeast Iowa.
"This is not an effort to pit one community against another. This is a unique situation with a community that the governor is closely affiliated with," Paul said.
After six months of study, the racing commission considered 10 casino license applications last week. It rejected proposals from Ottumwa, Fort Dodge, and Franklin County, as well other projects in downtown Waterloo, at the former Waterloo Greyhound Park and at Emmetsburg's Five Island Lake.
Iverson said if state regulators decide in July to adopt a proposed statewide moratorium on issuing new licenses, they should exclude Ottumwa, Fort Dodge and Franklin County so those communities can continue to seek casinos.
Published: 05/17/2005 4:46 PM
Updated: 05/17/2005 4:46 PM
By:
Associated Press - Associated Press
<!--End Header -->
<!--Last Updated: 20050517T164306-0500-->DES MOINES, IA - A legislative leader and the head of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission are divided over more gambling in Iowa.
The commission last week approved four new casinos for Waterloo, Emmetsburg, Riverside and Worth County and rejected bids from Fort Dodge, Ottumwa and Franklin County.
Senate Republican Leader Stewart Iverson, of Dows, said state regulators should allow up to seven casinos.
"I am not a big pro-gambling individual, but I see nothing wrong with letting all seven counties have gambling," Iverson said Monday. "I guess I am not afraid of competition. Let them all have it. We have gambling in Iowa. What difference does it make? I don't see why we have to protect one casino from competition."
But commission Chairwoman Diane Hamilton, of Storm Lake, said the board was sticking with its decision.
"We need to see how these licensees do before we issue more," Hamilton said. "I think we have to have some integrity. We made our decision, and we need to live with it."
Gov. Tom Vilsack suggested late last week that the commission should reconsider its decision to deny a license for the $40 million Wild Rose Ottumwa casino project.
Vilsack aide Matt Paul said Monday that the governor simply wanted Ottumwa to know his stance because he was familiar with the community's economic difficulties as a longtime public official from Mount Pleasant in southeast Iowa.
"This is not an effort to pit one community against another. This is a unique situation with a community that the governor is closely affiliated with," Paul said.
After six months of study, the racing commission considered 10 casino license applications last week. It rejected proposals from Ottumwa, Fort Dodge, and Franklin County, as well other projects in downtown Waterloo, at the former Waterloo Greyhound Park and at Emmetsburg's Five Island Lake.
Iverson said if state regulators decide in July to adopt a proposed statewide moratorium on issuing new licenses, they should exclude Ottumwa, Fort Dodge and Franklin County so those communities can continue to seek casinos.
