Coalition Wants Slots At the Rock

The coalition calls itself “Fix It Now New Hampshire.” According to coalition chairman Chuck Rolecek, the “it” refers to the state budget crisis. And as for the fix, that would be video slots, or as the coalition’s preferred language, limited gaming.

“Limited gaming can bring much needed revenue to the state’s coffers; it’s been estimated as much as 2 billion , that’s billion with a b, over the next ten years. But we must act fast and with conviction if we are going to take advantage of the unique opportunity presented to us.”

The proposition for lawmakers, coalition members stressed, is simple. Give the go ahead by July, and slot machines could be whirring at a temporary facility in seven months. Two years after that, the slots would move to their permanent home, a lavish new building the coalition believes would help attract 4 million visitors a year, 70 percent of whom would be from out of state. In the meantime, hundreds of good-paying building jobs would be created, and, as more than coalition member was at pains to stress, the state’s basic tax structure would be preserved. Ed Foley is rresident of the NH construction trades council.

“My members have asked me to come with a message today. And that message is this: We cannot afford a sales tax, we cannot afford an income tax, and we certain cannot afford to have an increase in our property taxes which are already the highest in the country.”

The few lawmakers who took in the press conference have heard much of this before. And the responses were predictable: all questioned the revenue projections, but none questioned the timing.

“It’s an easy sell to say casino gambling or sales or income tax.”

House Republican David Hess of Hooksett has long opposed expanded gambling.

“But based upon we have weathered through the economic crises of the late 80s and dot. com boom slowdown and the school funding situation. And everybody who knows NH knows those aren’t the only options.”

How far this and the several other gambling proposals go this year is hard to predict. While the state senate came close to passing a gambling bill last year, the house has historically been less open-minded. Even so, gambling foes are taking nothing for granted. Jim Rubens is chairman of the coalition against expanded gambling.

“We are aware this will be our toughest fight ever. We are aware the legislature is under a great deal of pressure.”

Another person under pressure is Governor Lynch. He’s long avoided a yes or no stance on the subject. Here’s what he had to say on gambling last month.

“I continue to have questions in terms of what it means for our economy for what it means on our economy; questions in terms of social costs or additional crime which might occur. So, until I get answers to those questions, I’m not prepared to go ahead with a discussion.”

Expect the discussion of gambling, with or without the Governor, to persist until lawmakers complete the budget early next summer.