Gambling proponents may get help from new lawmakers
When 22 Democrats in the Legislature failed to get re-elected on Election Day, a lot of people wrote off any chance of passing a bill to expand gambling in Texas.
Many Republicans have long been opposed to increased gambling in Texas. Whether it's slot machines at racetracks or full-blown casinos, the social conservative component of the Republican Party has contributed to squashing gambling measures in previous Legislatures.
But gambling proponents have said next year could be different.
The 22 Republicans are not of the social conservative variety, they said. Rather, they were elected for their fiscally conservative positions, and the new members might be open to expanded gambling to deal with the state's projected revenue shortfall.
But passing such bills isn't easy. They have been introduced and have never gained traction — especially because expanding gambling requires an amendment to the state constitution, and that needs the support of two-thirds of the House and Senate and then approval by the voters.
Bill Miller, a longtime lobbyist in Austin, said getting 100 votes in the House — two-thirds of the body — will be nearly impossible.
"It's a numbers game, and it's hard to get the numbers," Miller said.
But gambling proponents have insisted that a shortfall of more than $24 billion could prove so overwhelming that lawmakers might have to consider new revenue-generating streams such as expanded gambling.
The lofty projections of tax revenue, according to gambling proponents, reach as high as $3 billion to $4.5 billion per year for casinos and $1 billion a year for slots at racetracks.
Jack Pratt, chairman of the Texas Gaming Association and a proponent of casinos, said he is not discouraged by the recent election results.
"I have witnessed the debate over expanded gaming firsthand in at least 16 states and followed it closely in several others. It's just a fact that many Republican legislators around the country voted for these measures and were an essential part of the majority in those state legislatures that passed expanded gaming legislation," Pratt said. "A proposal to allow a limited number of destination resort casinos in Texas makes sense on the merits and is very compelling at a time when Texas needs jobs and new sources of nontax revenue."
Chris Shields, who also works with the Texas Gaming Association, said an overwhelming number of Texas voters support expanded gambling measures and even more support putting the issue to the voters, based on a poll commissioned by the association. And the newly elected candidates know that, he said.
"We think the new members have a very strong connection to the voters right now," Shields said.
Mike Lavigne, spokesman for Win for Texas, which is supported by track owners and the horse industry, said his group believes an expanded gambling bill can pass in the upcoming session, which will begin in January.
Most of the Legislature's new blood ran on platforms of no new taxes and less government, Lavigne said. They ran on fiscally conservative values, not on socially conservative ones. To prove his point, he produced a short stack of direct mail pieces from Republican challengers that include tea party-approved tax messages and not a word about abortion or other favorite topics of the socially conservative.
And because increased gambling raises money without raising taxes, these soon-to-be-sworn-in candidates could get behind a gambling measure, Lavigne said.
"There is very much a Libertarian leaning to a lot of the new faces in the Legislature, which lends itself well to a constitutional amendment because the voters should have an opportunity to decide the fate of this issue." Lavigne said.
Jason Isaac, the Republican who defeated Rep. Patrick Rose, D-San Marcos, represents hope for gambling proponents.
Isaac said he hasn't decided how he'd vote on a gambling bill. He'd have to see it first. But he said he is not necessarily opposed to the idea of expanded gambling.
"My concentration is going to be on fiscal matters," Isaac said, adding that his initial reaction is to be more open to slots at racetracks where gambling already exists rather than casinos.
Isaac said one of his concerns is that gambling could lead to bigger government — something that he and many other newly elected people staunchly oppose.
The position of Paul Workman, another newly elected Central Texas Republican, proves that gambling proponents will have to work for every vote. He said he'll oppose a gambling measure.
Workman, who defeated Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin , said he enjoys trips to Las Vegas and does not see gambling as evil. But he thinks expanded gambling of any kind in Texas would be a mistake. He might not be opposed to gambling on moral grounds, but he objects to the crime and other social costs associated with it.
"I think it brings more trouble than it solves," he said. "I think it would add an undue burden to cities and counties."
Justin Keener, vice president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank, said new lawmakers won't necessarily favor expanded gambling for its ability to raise revenue. Many were elected by voters who want the government to spend less money. They want lawmakers to balance the budget with existing revenue, and they don't want them to seek new sources of money, like gambling.
Additionally, some lawmakers might not vote in favor of gambling for fear of backlash from the socially conservative wing of the Republican Party.
The group that wants to allow slots at existing racetracks and the supporters of building Las Vegas-style casinos have the same general goal: more gambling options in Texas. But they are pursuing two very different pieces of legislation.
Both groups hope that the lawmaker who replaces Rep. Edmund Kuempel, R-Seguin , as chairman of the committee that handles gambling measures will be as supportive of expansion as he was. He died of a heart attack Nov. 4.
"I think that the loss of Chairman Kuempel is a setback," Shields said.
House Speaker Joe Straus has yet to announce a replacement for Kuempel. Straus, a San Antonio Republican, has relatives who have invested in San Antonio's Retama Park racetrack and has said he would recuse himself in the gambling debate.
Gov. Rick Perry has said he does not want to expand the footprint of gambling in Texas, but his signature is not required on a proposed constitutional amendment.
So, while they are optimistic about their chances, gambling advocates acknowledge the difficulty of their effort.
"We definitely have a job ahead of us," Lavigne said.
Shields echoed the sentiment: "It was always going to be a challenge.”