Pro and Con of Liberalized Gambling in Texas - 7402 Words

Efforts are once again underway in the legislature to bring casino-style gambling to Texas. It’s an idea that has failed in recent legislative sessions, but backers are hoping they’ve found the right formula for success in 2009. There are many appealing arguments on the side of pro-gambling groups. Keeping gambling money that is now going to Louisiana and Oklahoma in Texas is one popular idea. Reviving the state’s horse-raising industry by allowing slot machines at racetracks is another. Some advocates want to help struggling Indian tribes develop their economies through gambling. Opponents generally cite moral grounds for their hostility to gambling legislation. There are, however, many fiscal arguments against gambling as well.†¦show more content†¦Additionally, this session is the first for new Texas House of Representatives Speaker Joe Straus, who has family ties to the horse-raising industry. This creates a potential conflict of interest should any bills related to casinos at horse racing tracks come before the House. To deflect criticism, Straus has peremptorily recused himself from any role in considering such legislation. However, Straus created the committees which will oversee gambling issues, assigned members to them and selected which bills are referred to which committees. So far, most of the gambling legislation filed in the Texas House has been referred to committee. That filed in the Texas Senate, where Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst presides, has not been referred. To his credit, Straus did not pack any of the committees dealing with gambling. The Licensing and Administration Committee, through which most gambling goes, retains roughly the same percentage of members for and against gambling as the previous committee under Speaker Tom Craddick. In both cases, the committee leaned slightly toward expanding gambling. Current Legislation. Full-blown Casinos: House Bill 1724 by Jose Menendez (R-San Antonio) and Jim Pitts (R-Waxahachie), as well as its Senate version by Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) would establish full-blown casinoShow MoreRelatedHuman Resources Management150900 Words   |  604 PagesHispanic Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans. By 2000, about 30% of the U.S. population will be from such minority groups. Already, â€Å"minority† individuals make up a majority in many cities of at least 100,000 population in California, Texas, and Florida. Some of the changes in racial and ethnic groups are as follows: ââ€"  ââ€"  ââ€"  The population of Asian Americans is expected to jump fivefold from 1990 to 2050, with half of these people being foreign born. The number of African Americans