On Thursday, the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted down the expanded gaming bill. This is not new, as they have done this for a number of years. The House refused to vote to restore revenue sharing to the local communities, thus keeping $25.2 million from being sent back as part of the deal struck with the locals in 1970. This action has been part of the gaming bill for the last two legislative sessions. At the same time the New Hampshire House said no, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island have expanded their gaming and thus New Hampshire people are going to our neighboring states to gamble. These states receive the revenue and New Hampshire gets nothing.
Many of the reasons the New Hampshire House brings up are so bogus that it is not worth going over them. I am writing this op-ed to tell the people of New Hampshire – 70 percent of whom support this new revenue source – that their voices do not go unheard. The Senate has passed this bill over and over and I will continue to hear what the people want and work every day to serve the public.
The revenue from the gaming bill would help reduce property taxes, provide for a way to deal with problem gaming and give the state much needed revenue. The jobs created would be good for New Hampshire and the will of the public would be answered.
Sixty years ago, Governor John King made the bold step of signing the lottery bill. Thirty-six states have followed the New Hampshire example and our lottery gives the education trust $70 million a year. The $100 million plus that gaming would produce would help reduce property taxes and give our citizens what they want.
The fact that our House has failed to do this is worth noting. We have what is called “charitable gaming.” These so-called casinos are here but the benefit to our state is not. As Yogi Berra said, “It is what it is.” I hope those who have said “no” will come up with their own plan to restore revenue sharing and give the people what they need – tax relief.
