Opinion

The East gets the icing again

Thursday, April 15, 2004

It seems that an Iowa Senator is stepping into Nebraska's politics.

According to an AP News story, House Speaker Chris Rants of Iowa has told Nebraska Legislative Speaker Curt Bromm Nebraska should tread lightly when it comes to bringing gambling to the state.

What in the world did we expect him to say? If Nebraskan's approve gambling, it will cut down considerably on the money being poured across the Missouri River into Council Bluffs.

According to the story Rants ... said he's told Bromm that gambling is difficult to rein in once it has a foothold.

"Once you do it, it is very difficult to keep control over it, to not become addicted to the revenue,"Rants said.

What a horrible dilemma. To have extra revenue that you have to depend on.

Arguments keep arising as to the social ills that will be brought on by the gambling issue. The fact is, if someone in Nebraska has a gambling addiction, there are already any number of ways to get a fix.

You have your lottery, your pickle cards and your scratch cards. You can get on the Internet and make a bet on your favorite fighter or you can get involved in a "friendly" game of poker. You can sign your name on the office pool or you can throw a few dollars down the "entertainment only" games that can be found in many bars. Imagine the revenues the state has already lost by not allowing gambling in its boundaries.

With the decline in rural population and income, the gambling issue is certainly one option to consider for increasing revenue.

It will be interesting to see how the majority of Nebraskans feel about the gambling issue.

Another issue that will come before voters in November appears to be the funding of the Nebraska State Fair.

The legislature has decided to ask voters to allow the state to contribute $2 million to the fair from lottery ticket sales -- with the city of Lincoln kicking in a 10 percent match.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the State Fair is important to some people. But is it more important than educating our children or taking care of the state's infrastructure?

I'm only guessing, but I think the eastern part of the state is once again getting a little icing on the cake. It must be nice to live in Nebraska.

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