Lawmakers to Vote on Casino Bill
Legislative week: expanded gambling, abortion, art and taxes.
This sure ain’t Vegas, baby, but state lawmakers this week continue to debate a bill that would allow up to four casinos and 14,000 slot machines in New Hampshire. The House deals with it Wednesday or Thursday. To slot or not?
Games of chance: The casino bill, House Bill 593, is up for a vote even as Gov. John Lynch has promised to veto it if the bill ever reaches his desk. Opponents say it would erode the quality of life in New Hampshire. Supporters argue it’s a win-win: the state gets needed revenues to make the Granite State a more attractive place for business and it captures some of the money now leaving the state as residents and tourists go elsewhere to gamble.
What are the odds? The House Ways and Means Committee, in its majority report, calls the expanded gaming bill a bipartisan, pro-business bill that will create jobs and achieve tax relief. New Hampshire residents now spend about $80 million a year to gamble outside the state, lawmakers said. Rep. David Hess, a Hooksett Republican opposed to the bill, mocked the “expanded” gambling. “With one stroke of the pen, two casinos have morphed into four, authorizing 14,000 slot machines and 420 table games, probably the highest concentration of legalized gambling per capita anywhere in the United States outside of Nevada,” Hess write in the minority report.
FYI, IB Bill up for OTPA: A bill to allow a parent or guardian to withdraw a child from a school district which adopts the International Baccalaureate program won a favorable Education Committee recommendation. The amendment, however, finds it is not feasible for a child to removed from the district over such an objection, but holds that “school programs cannot be governed by a foreign body or organization.” The amendment would also study the IB program to see if it’s in the best interest of New Hampshire. The minority report, paraphrased in four words: Give us a break.
Medical Marijuana: The Senate on Wednesday will consider a bill to permit marijuana use for medical purposes. A committee endorsed it, along with this amendment.
Head injury policies: The full Senate will also see a bill to have school districts adopt policies to manage concusssion and head injuries in youth sports. The legislation includes language to limit liability of the district and it spells out how and when a youth athlete should be removed from play. For example, a student removed shall not return until they are evaluated by a medical provider and receives authorization to return to play.
Beaux Arts: Repeal the state art fund? A bill to do just that won some support earlier this year, but is currently slated to be referred to interim study. There are more than 600 individual works of art and historic items the state has bought and paid for, “constituting a valuable state asset in need of curating, maintenance, and as needed, repair,” according to House Finance. The committee concerns include opening up the state operating budget to unknown future art expenses. Proponents of the bill have said funding art should be a case-by-case basis as new building projects come up for review.
McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center: The House will consider a bill to transfer the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center to a private operator – an independent non-profit – by the end of 2012.
Abortion Bills: The House on Wednesday is set to take up House Bill 1659, the “women’s right to know act” regarding abortion information 24 hours ahead of a woman choosing to have an abortion. Also on the House calendar for Wednesday, House Bill 1653, relative to the rights of conscience for medical professionals, and House Bill 1660, relative to abortions after 20 weeks.
Ed DeClercq
12:08 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
Call your Representative and tell them to VOTE Yes on the gaming bill.
Peter North
3:18 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
Salem Reps are not interested in hearing from their constituents. They vote how the Speaker tells them to vote which is way I am not voting for any of them again. Check their voting records and you can see for yourself
Underwater Couple
12:37 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
House Bill 593 is a JOBS BILL. Let us see exactly who votes FOR JOBS or who votes AGAINST JOBS.
Underwater Couple
1:12 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
Couple of thousand jobs we are talking about. Decent paying and good jobs. Anybody not for jobs in the legislature?
Dan Tuohy
2:25 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
Ways & Means Chairman Stephen Stepanek, at news conference today promoting the gambling bill, said, “This is the most significant jobs and tax cut bill our Legislature has seen in year."
Underwater Couple
2:38 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
Plenty of Jobs for "WOMEN AND MINORITIES"
Underwater Couple
7:00 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
These Casino Jobs would pay $43,000-$65,000 a year.
Around Town
7:51 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
I hope ALL our reps vote yes on HB 593 it is a great bill that will create desperate revenue this state and town needs and will add good paying jobs to citizens in this difficult economy. Also Rockingham Park has ben a great friend to the town/state of NH so please ALL our state reps vote yes on hb 593 and encourage other state reps to do the right thing and vote yes on hb 593!!!
Peter North
2:52 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
@Patrick: Still talking about this "difficult economy" ? Go for a ride up and down RTE 28, every shopping plaza is packed !
Underwater Couple
8:35 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
Thousands of Construction jobs in NH.
Peter North
2:54 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Construction jobs are doing very well in NH right now. So well that a lot of MA residents are coming this way to work the trades
My $0.02
8:38 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
@ Peter North
I really don't see Mass workers comming to a more depressed state than there own, as i've noticed in the last few years, there have been more and more people traveling south for better paying employment, it's time this state starts to move forward rather than continue to live in the dark ages. As far as Rt 28, volume of cars in the parking lots does not mean these people are buying more, this state is in a bad way, we need to pass this, and pass it now!
ForThePeople
11:05 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
This is not a good bill. Gambling brings societal ills and if you go down to the casinos like Foxwoods, you can tell who really made all the money. Most of the jobs are low-wage jobs for people willing to work for it. The surrounding area does not bloom because the casino purchases the land and provides all the amenities including food, lodging, and everything else. All I remember by Foxwoods that isn't owned by them is a Dunkin' Donuts just outside the main road going in.
What kind of economic development are you expecting? Short-term construction? Folks to unlock a stuck slot machine? What? Because we are mainly funded by property taxes, and this is going to be used to subsidize business tax cuts, who do you think is paying for this? None of us are going to be seeing a dime. In fact, we are going to be paying into the general fund for all of the crap that comes with gambling. The same thing that happened with the cigarette tax decrease is going to happen with this; the businesses will pocket the bonuses, prices will stay the same, and reelection money for the lawmakers will be plentiful.
This is how Republicans work: they will sell you a social issue in exchange for handouts to businesses. For all of you that complain about welfare, what about business welfare?
Be careful what you wish for.
Just One Vote
7:36 am on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
You cite Foxwoods as an example; that is significantly different than what we would have here in NH. For starters the land is already owned, and not by sovereign nation, ie Indian Tribe, but by NH citizens. It is not developed because it was not planned that way. The Rockingham Park spot would most definitely bolster the surrounding community that is already there.
By your logic we should do away with the NH lottery commission, but then where would school funding be?
john
11:50 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
we have been fighting this bill to long its time to pass this bill its what the people want the people put the reps there to fight for them do not let them down we can win this.
Underwater Couple
4:00 am on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Quotes from A prominent NH Union President
“We see this as the most important JOB BILL in New Hampshire”
“These facilities could provide THOUSANDS of GOOD JOBS”
Joe Casey, President of the NH Building and Construction Trades Council
Union Leader 3/27/2012
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120327/NEWS06/703279965
Underwater Couple
7:54 am on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Average Casino Employee Pay
University of Las Vegas Gaming Research Study 1990-2011
Year.#Employees*.Average Pay
2011....103,261.…..$46,085.92
*Raw total of employed and not FTE (Full Time Equivalent). Other than G & A, a lot of these jobs are not full time. Hours worked per employee to adjust for FTE not available.
2011 Average Pay by Function
Casino…………..$43,472.55
Rooms…………..$45,484.11
Food……………..$41,989.84
Beverage…..……$31,576.02
Other……….……$48,336.99
G & A……………$65,095.44
Link to UNLV Research includes breakout of each of the above functions by year.
http://gaming.unlv.edu/reports/lvstrip_emp.pdf
Underwater Couple
8:22 am on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Casino Job Creation Model
Based on 2,000 Employees
Male……………….48.4%........968
Female……………51.6%.....1,032
Black…………..……6.6%........132
Hispanic/Latino.......9.6%........192
Lesbian/Gay……..5.0%..........100
Asian……………...5.3%..........106
(personal projection)
Underwater Couple
1:28 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
“Trade Unions only get paid when there is work to be done”.
Quote from New Hampshire Labor News Network (3/21/12)
Underwater Couple
3:01 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Democrats 67%
Republicans 74%
Independents 74%
http://www.scribd.com/nhkillion/d/29567120-Millennium-Final-NH-Statewide-Survey-Results-April-8-2010
Patriot
6:23 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Why would the state want to compete with private companies? It is nice to be the King!
Wendy James
8:33 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
And you are the King, I thought more the Court Jester !
Patriot
6:32 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
We are watching the King present his case before the Supreme Court. So nice to watch lawyers argue a little pregnant.
Peter North
8:52 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
@My $0.02. The parking lots were just an observation. I shopped at Market Basket and Marshalls today and both were very busy. Last Saturday night the wait for a table at the Tuscan Kitchen was over an hour and it was 3 deep at the bar. I do think things are getting better!
As far as workers coming north, I have seen it on a projects I visited in Manchester. Both the new Public Safety facility and Market Basket had a lot of workers from MA on their sites.
But I agree, the State needs to start moving forward with creating new jobs which we both know is not happening during this legislative session.
Underwater Couple
8:57 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
4,170 Construction Jobs
Construction Job Creation Formula
8.34 Jobs per Million Dollars of Construction
Value # of Construction Jobs
500M………….4,170
350M………….2,919
Underwater Couple
9:04 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
NH Troopers Association and NH Police Association both endorse HB 593.