Category Archives: Casinos

February 2021 Newsletter

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Tons of Legislation Introduced

First 8 Days: Legislators Introduce Numerous Amendments to Georgia Constitution
Those that pass will be on the 2022 General Election ballot.

H.R. 4 Georgia General Assembly Term Limits for Representatives and Senators limits representatives to six consecutive terms, increases senator terms to four years, limits them to three terms. Currently, all Georgia legislators serve two-year terms, with unlimited re-election.
ACTION – Oppose. Two-year terms give voters more control. Call Governmental Affairs Committee Representatives Taylor, Ch., 656-7857; Sainz, V-Ch., 656-0178; Gullett, Sec., 656-0178; Anderson, 656-0325; Blackmon, 656-5103; Burnough, 656-0116; Collins, 656-1803; Fleming, 656-5105; Gravley, 656-5025; Leverett, 656-0188; Lumsden, 656-7850; Mainor, 656-0126; Nyugen, 656-0314; Oliver, 656-0265; Powell, 463-3793; Roberts, 656-0220; Shannon, 656-7859; Mary Frances Williams, 656-0287; Rick Williams, 656-0254; and Williamson, 656-5024.

H.R. 13 Remove Cannabis (Marijuana) from Federal Controlled Substances Act
ACTION – Oppose. Marijuana is destructive and addictive. Call Judiciary Non-Civil Committee Representatives Burchett, Ch., 404 656-5705; Reeves, V-Ch., 651-7737; Gravley, Sec., 656-5025; Efstration, 656-5125; Ballinger, 656-7153; Boddie, 656-0287; Byrd, 656-0213; Cooper, 656-5069; Kendrick, 656-0109; Lopez, 656-0298; McLaurin, 656-0202 Momtahan 656-0178; Setzler, 656-5143; Smith, 657-1803.

H.R. 14 Replace Stephens Statue with John Lewis Statue (a) creates the National Statuary Hall Collection Replacement Committee of (b) eight appointees to (c) replace Georgia’s statue of Alexander Hamilton Stephens with statue of Congressman John Lewis in the U.S. Capitol.
ACTION – Oppose. It sets a very disruptive precedent and challenges Georgia history. Call State Properties Committee Representatives Greene, Ch., 656-9210; Dunahoo, V-Ch., 656-0152; Pirkle, Sec., 656-7850; Buckner, 656-0116; Gilliard, 656-7859; Lott, 651-7737; Lumsden, 656-7850; Mike Smith, 656-0265; Werkheiser, 656-5132; M.F. Williams, 656-0287.

H.R. 23 Urge Congress to Reject Actions to Increase Justices on Supreme Court
ACTION – Support. Call Judiciary Committee Representatives Efstration, Ch., 656-5125; Gunter, V-Ch., 656-0325; Scoggins, Sec., 656-0254; Burchettt, 656-5105; Nix, 656-5146; Bruce, 656-7859; Dreyer, 656-0265; Fleming, 656-5105; Holcomb, 656-6372; Todd Jones, 463-2246; Leverett, 656-0188; Evans, 656-0116; Oliver, 656-0265; Reeves, 651-7737; Rich 656-5087; Wilensky 656-0202; and Wilson, 656-6372.

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February 2018 Newsletter

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OPPOSE the ERA, It has Dire National Consequences

The ERA does not mention women; it does not put women in the U.S. Constitution. The ERA puts the word “sex” in the U.S. Constitution.

H.R. 969, introduced in the Georgia General Assembly January 29, 2018, is an attempt by Democrats to ratify a federal Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in Georgia. Almost 50 years after it was introduced in 1923, Congress passed ERA, a proposed constitutional amendment, in 1972. Since constitutional amendments must be ratified by three-fourths (38) of the 50 states, a seven-year time limit for ratification was attached to the proposal. At the end of seven years, only 35 states had ratified ERA, leaving them three states short of ratification. During a three-year time-limit extension, no other state ratified ERA and, thankfully, it failed.

ACTION – OPPOSE H.R. 969. Call House Judiciary Committee Representatives Willard, Ch., 404 656-5125; Fleming, V-Ch., 656-0152; Kelley, Sec., 657-1803; Beskin, 656-0254; Caldwell, 656-0152; Golick, 656-5943; Hanson, 656-0325; Powell, 656-5103; Rutledge, 656-0254; Welch, 656-5912; Nix 656-5146 (Ex officio). (These are the 9 Republicans on the 16-member committee.)

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February 20, 2017 Newsletter

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Casino Embedded in “Immediate Action Needed!

Threat Percolating under the Gold Dome; Will Georgia get two casinos or six?
S.B. 79 and H.B. 158, as introduced, authorize two casinos.
S.R. 249 proposed constitutional amendment authorizes SIX!

S.R. 249, a proposed constitutional amendment dropped in the House hopper February 17th to be officially introduced February 20th, authorizes the General Assembly to license “no more than six” destination resorts (with embedded casinos) “at any given time.” Six casinos are three times the number of casinos authorized in the original versions of S.B. 79 and H.B. 158.

S.R. 249 prohibits all other forms of casino gaming, stating that the prohibition will be enforced by law. Proceeds from licensing, regulation, and taxing of casinos will be used for education after pay-outs, operating expenses, and addictive gambling prevention programs are funded.

Legalizing Casino Gambling could authorize Indian¹ Casinos in Georgia
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act is a 1988 U.S. federal law that establishes the jurisdictional framework governing Indian gaming. There was no federal gaming structure before this Act (Pub. L. 100-497, 25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.), that established the following three gaming classes:
Class I gaming is defined as (1) traditional Indian gaming, that may be part of tribal ceremonies, and celebrations, and (2) social gaming for minimal prizes. Class 1 gaming regulatory authority is vested exclusively in tribal governments.
Class II gaming is a game of chance commonly known as bingo and, if played in the same location, includes card games that are played exclusively against other players rather than against the house or a player acting as a bank. The Act specifically excludes from the definition of class II games slot machines or electronic facsimiles of any game of chance.
Class III gaming is broad. It includes all forms of gaming that are neither class I nor II. Games commonly played at casinos, such as slot machines, blackjack, craps, and roulette, clearly fall in the class III category, as well as wagering games and electronic facsimiles of any game of chance. Generally, class III is often referred to as casino-style gaming. For Indian tribes to establish and operate casinos, the following conditions must be in place:
(a) Class III gaming must be permitted in the state.
(b) The tribe and state must have negotiated a compact with approved regulatory procedures.
(c) The Tribe must have a tribal gaming ordinance approved by the commission chairman.
A 1976 U.S. Supreme Court decision was interpreted to allow states to address only “crimes and civil disputes” in tribal issues. That ruling opened the gates for the Indian gaming industry to become the most widely successful economic initiative on reservations across the country.

ACTION – OPPOSE S.B. 79 and S.R. 249. Vote expected by Thursday, February 23rd. Call Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee Senators Jeffares, Ch., 463-1376; Ginn, V-Ch., 404 656-4700; McKoon, Sec., 463-3931; Cowsert, 463-1366; Gooch, 656-9221; Harbison, 656-0074; Henson, 656-0085; Hill, 656-5038; Kennedy, 656-0045; Lucas, 656-5035; Miller, 656-7454; Mullis, 656-0057; Shafer, 656-0048; Unterman, 463-1368.

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February 10, 2017 Radio Commentary

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Do you want a casino in your back yard?

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, February 10, 2017 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

If the 2015 casino bills had passed, six casinos would be sprinkled around the state, already, and the State Constitution would be listing all 159 counties, divided into six districts, to indicate where each of the six casinos would be built. Thankfully, those bills died and the state has no casinos, but here we go, again.

This year’s bills are less up-front than the others. The current ones refer to “destination resorts,” and describe them as developments for shopping and entertainment, convention halls and hotels that just happen to have space for a business called “gaming.” So, Georgians are supposed to swallow the notion that this is nothing new, all is well, and nothing will change … although there will be an around-the-clock every-day-of-the-year gambling area, to accommodate folks who want in-state casinos!

Representative Ron Stephens introduced H.B. 158 and Senator Brandon Beach introduced S.B. 79. They are identical bills; both are called the “Destination Resort Act;” both create casino gambling; and both create a five-member Georgia Gaming Commission. The governor appoints three members, the lieutenant governor appoints one and the House Speaker appoints one. That means, the sitting governor will control the commission. Continue reading →