(01/23/12) Gov. Andrew Cuomo has released a bill to amend the state's constitution to legalize non-Native casino gambling in New York.
The
proposal to amend a long standing tenet of New York’s constitution is stated
very simply.
It would
eight words to the portion of the constitution that deals with gambling,
changing the language to permit "casino gambling regulated by the state."
That
would give officials broad leeway on new gambling in New York.
The
governor says expanding gambling will create jobs and bring in needed revenue.
He also wants to get a grip on what he calls the present "hodge-podge" of
gaming allowed under present law at racetracks and racinos.
He
says right now, there’s no rhyme or reason to them, “I support a referendum on casino
gaming, so we could actually have a comphrensive gaming program to the state."
The amendment is likely to
pass in the legislature.
It would still require
approval by a second consecutively elected legislature, and could be on
the ballot by November 2013.
St. Lawrence University, Canton,
New York 13617 • phone: 1-877-388-6277 • email
radio@ncpr.org
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