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Politics & Government

State Lawmakers Want to Talk Casinos

But they're split on whether or not to increase the number of casinos in Connecticut.

 

HOLD ‘EM OR FOLD ‘EM

While some legislators want Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the General Assembly to consider expanding casinos across the Nutmeg State, others say "no dice."

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“Casinos? Not a fan of expanding them,” said . “There's so much data that shows how detrimental they are to the cities and towns were they're built.”

Aside from concerns of a more moral nature, there are concerns of the money kind.

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Simply put, Fred Carstensen, director for the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis at the University of Connecticut questions whether more roulette tables mean more revenue.

“I don’t see that expanding gambling in Connecticut would have much impact—we already have a lot between the casinos and the state lottery,” Carstensen said. “If you opened facilities in Bridgeport or western Connecticut it would largely divert gambling from the current sites. There might be some gain, but there are costs, too—policing, transportation.”

Because the next session is short, lawmakers will be hard-pressed to find time to deal with more than tweaking the budget and tackling education. Still, with a shaky economy issues like expanding gaming beyond Foxwoods might be explored. 

“As for expanding casinos, I am not a fan of gambling, but I do think we need to decide which way we are going to go with regard to the casinos and other forms of legalized gambling,” said . “I am aware of the revenue generated by gambling and the ways we can increase (advertising dollars) revenue to the state that doesn't include involuntary taxes.

It is a discussion that needs to take place.”

BLACK PLAGUE FRIDAY?

After police used a Taser on a New Britain man last Friday—he allegedly cut the line at Wal-Mart—some shoppers are wondering whether it’s high time to reign in retailers.

Because Black Friday accounts for nearly 40 percent of most retailers’ annual revenue, most Fairfield County legislators are wary of passing laws. But UConn’s Carstensen said there’s another way. It’s the 6-6-6 plan and no, it’s not the work of the devil.

“There should be a national sales tax of six percent from 6 pm Thanksgiving Day to 6 Am Friday morning,” Carstensen said. “If people want to pay extra fine – but let the national treasury benefit. The current competition on opening earlier and earlier generates no additional sales in aggregate and is wasteful. At least let’s tax it.”

DIAL UP

They will hear him now.

State Rep. Chris Perone, a Democrat representing Norwalk in the 137th House District was appointed to the Federal Communication Commission’s Intergovernmental Advisory Committee.

“I am honored to be selected by Chairman Genachowski and the Commission for appointment to the IAC,” Perone said. “Given the importance of providing access for all Americans to telemedicine, business-to-business collaboration, e-government and distance education, being part of a group which will be making recommendations about how to facilitate these goals is something I look forward to.”

Perone joins 15 officials of municipal, county, state, and tribal governments, including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. For the next two years the IAC will work to implement expanded broadband adoption and deployment, pursuant to the FCC’s March 2010 National Broadband Plan.

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