Philadelphia
casino vote hurdle cleared
As
reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer
PHILADELPHIA,
Pa. –
"It is looking as if Philadelphians will have their
say on casinos in the May 15 primary election, but it
remains to be seen whether the courts will listen.
"Anti-casino
activists, who lobbied aggressively to get the question
on the ballot, cleared a big hurdle yesterday when City
Council unanimously overrode Mayor Street's veto of legislation
that asks voters to prohibit casinos within 1,500 feet
of homes, houses of worship, parks and schools.
"If
approved, the charter amendment would bar construction
of the Foxwoods and SugarHouse casinos at their state-approved
Delaware River sites and limit alternative sites to a
handful of remote locations that casino advocates call
impractical.
"Or,
the amendment could mean nothing at all.
"The
matter is all but certain to be decided by the state Supreme
Court, and many - Street included - predict that the court
will find Philadelphia lacks the constitutional authority
to trump the state on gaming matters no matter what the
voters say…"
Kansas gaming bill passes
As
reported by The Kansas City Star
KANSAS
– As
reported by the Kansas City Star: "After years of
often bitter debate in the Kansas Legislature, Wyandotte
County will get its casino.
"After
midnight, the Kansas Senate approved a historic gambling
bill authorizing casinos in Kansas City, Kan., Wichita,
Dodge City and southeast Kansas, as well as slot machines
at race tracks.
"Thirty-nine
of 40 Senators had voted as of midnight, holding open
the vote for one lawmaker who wasn't present. The final
vote was 21-19. A final procedural challenge was mounted
but fell short.
"The
bill passed the House on Monday, and Senate approval sends
it to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who has already voiced support
for the proposal.
"It
was a narrow but stunning victory for supporters, who
waged a 12-hour filibuster in the Senate to keep the bill
breathing. Until the vote, the critical 21st vote seemed
impossibly elusive, much as it had been in years past…"