Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 20 December 2002 — Page 7

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20,2002

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAQEA7

CIERCY AMD STATE 0FHCU1S DISCUSS POTEMTUL EXPANSION OF GAMBUHC

the Statehouse once again to Greater Harvest Institutional tackle many pressing issues, Church of God in Christ, says the state’s projected $760 mil- he sees hypocrisy in the whole lion debt being one of them. A movement to maintiain and possible further expansion of legalize the gambling indusgambling operations for in- try. I creased tax revenue has be- a On the one hand, the state come more attractive to law- excise police shut down pea makers who are skittish about shake houses and private gamraising taxes or cutting be- bling sessions, but on the other loved agencies within their hand, Indiana created a masdistricts. sive state lottery. It has been estimated that In other words, state offithe state generated $445 mil- cials have given legal approval lion in gambling revenue, and to an industry of people who $365 million from the lottery, are doing the same things inBut many church leaders dividuals on the street once and officials who do not want did. This is simply another to see the state become too occasion in which the system dependent on gambling are condemns a practice, then urging caution. sanctions it for a preferred “I believe the state should group." find better and more positive “In addition,” Elder Rush means to alleviate the eco- added, "there seems to be a nomic problems we currently criminal element present face, especially when it comes when gambling is created, esto funding education,” said tablished or embellished.” Father Charles Smith of St. Richard Hamilton, retired Rita Catholic Church in In- pastor of North United Methdianapolis. "As a state we odist Church and a member of should not have to look to the Indiana Coalition Against gambling as a fiscal liberator, Legalized Gambling, said and instead put more empha- lower income people are the sis on developing businesses.” ones who are most exploited Father Tom Murphy, pas- by the gambling industry, tor of St. John Catholic “A gambling habit can beChurch, agrees. come particularly troublesome “I’m unequivocally opposed for those who maybe can’t take to any expansion of gambling, a day off work and go to a cawith the only exception efforts sino, but can buy lottery tickto preserve the West Baden ets when they pump gas. Hotel in French Lick.” Father I have also noticed that lotMurphy agreed that many tery tickets are available at churches, including Catholic many outlets in the inner city, congregations, use bingo as a but they’re hard to find in armeans to raise money for eas such as Keystone at the charity. But, he added, “We Crossing.” do not use bingo at St. John Former Gov. Robert D. Orr, because it’s not a part of our a Republican who served from tradition.” 1981 to 1989, said it would not Elder Lionel Rush, a promi- be wise for lawmakers to purnent civil rights leader in In- sue any state-sanctioned exdianapolis and pastor of pansion of the gambling in-

► Continued from Pago 1 dustry during the upcoming Mike Smith, a former state legislative session. representative and now execu"I was firmly against the le- tive director of the Casino Asgalization of casinos and sociation of Indiana, says the would have acted against it if I benefits riverboat gambling was still in office at the time,” has brought to Indiana far he said. Orr added that he did outweigh its disadvantages, not support the resolution to He said the presence of introduce a state lottery in riverboat casinos has given 1988. “There are other meth- economically strapped areas of ods the state can use to raise the state such as Gary, funds. Indiana has become Lawrenceburg and Evansville more dependent upon gam- much-needed revenue and bling than it should. A lot of jobs. people can’t afford the habit, “If you go to any of the locaand those who can least of- tions that have a riverboat, you fered are worst affected” will see an expansion of tourU.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, a ism and employment that Democrat who was also Orr’s comes from constructing and successor as governor, signed operating the casinos.” the bill creating the Hoosier According to the associaLottery in 1989, and accepted tion, the gambling industry a $73 million check for tax re- has employed 16,000 people lief. But in 1993, he vetoed the and has paid over $2.2 billion controversial proposal to le- in taxes, galize casinos in Indiana. But Smith admits that at least 2 the Legislature overrode his percent of gamblers nationveto, and Indiana saw its first wide become “problem gamriverboat casino arrive in Gary biers and develop a habit that in 1996. becomes as addictive as alco“Sen. Bayh’s opposition to hoi or drugs. "The number of gambling has not changed,” people who deal with negative said Kurt Rosin, press secre- consequences of gambling is tary for Bayh’s Washington small compared to other inoffice. “His views on this issue dustries. In addition, this inremains the same.” dustry donates millions each Gov. Frank O’Bannon has year to programs that assist opposed any expansion of le- compulsive gamblers, galized gambling in the past. In this position, one of my But recently, he said he would goals is to educate people be willing to look at changes about gambling so that people in the state’s gambling law if can make informed decisions Indiana boats faced competi- when participating in this action from other states. In 1998, tivity.” he authorized the formation "To me, it’s an issue of of a 12-member Indiana Gam- personal choice. You should bling Impact Study Commis- be able to choose what you sion. In its final report, the like to do with your time, commission recommended whether it’s going to a ball that the state put a morato- game or spending time in a rium on expanding gambling casino. No one is forcing until its long-term effects can Customers to spend their be determined. money in casinos.”

State lawmakers from the predominantly AfricanAmerican city of Gary, especially Rep. Vernon Smith and Sen. Earline Rogers have supported Indiana’s riverboat casinos, citing a recent influx of over 3,000 jobs and revenue that has been used to improve infrastructure and buy new police cruisers.

But Hamilton said the problem is that nobody’s asking why Lake County has the highest bankruptcy rate in the nation. Additional pressure to expand gambling during the next legislative session could also come from the Pokagon band of Potawatomi Indians, which wants to set up landbased casinos in both Michigan and Indiana.

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