There was a time when threats by Gov. Mitch Daniels meant something.
The most recent warning suggested a shutdown of government if the mixed bag of political posturers known as the General Assembly did not pass a two-year budget by a midnight Tuesday deadline.
Daniels would have ordered the closure of non-essential state services. Locally, that would have most vividly translated into the sending home of gaming officials at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino and workers at Mounds State Park.
“It remains an unacceptable option to me,” Daniels said. “But I didn’t want to wait until 24 hours before this remote possibility could occur to let the public know what the consequences would be ...”
Turns out the threat was pure posturing by our governor; a worthless taunt that put the 16,000 casinos employees on edge.
As Tuesday’s deadline loomed, a loose coalition of casino and gaming companies in Indiana filed a temporary restraining order in Indianapolis against the state to keep the casinos open. The order, though moot because a budget agreement was reached, was granted by a judge.
According to the lawsuit, the closing would result in approximately a $3 million a day loss in tax revenue to the state. And this Daniels wanted to stop?
As the lawsuit claimed, all costs associated with the enforcement of Indiana Gaming Commission’s duties are paid by casinos, including the gaming agents who are on site at casinos.
Arguably, the money passes through the state coffers before ending up in gaming officials’ paychecks. The state would have the power to pull those agents from the casinos, but it seems that such a move doesn’t resolve any budget crisis.
Indeed, Daniels would do more damage by trying to make a rather ineffective point. We would have said the same prior to the approval of a budget.
Daniels has a long-standing belief that the casinos, though troubled financially, should not be given tax breaks. Hoosier Park has claimed that the state fees are crippling the company’s ability to survive in this bleak economy. It wants a tax break.
In Elwood recently, Daniels reiterated that he has no intention of bailing out Indiana’s two racinos. He blamed lawmakers for the $250 million licensing fee for the racinos. Instead, Daniels would have opted to auction the licenses to the highest bidder.
Gambling and sin taxes are easy targets in Indiana. But this state is mired too deep in gambling to ever foresee a time when it would not need tax revenues from racinos, horse tracks and every other now legal form of gambling.
There are also too many jobs tied into gambling for anyone to threaten a closure of an industry that, despite economic woes, provides a steady form of tax revenue.
Gov. Daniels made a bad decision in threatening a shutdown of government and put at least 16,000 lives on edge. The shutdown would have affected every Hoosier.
Hoosier Park and others wisely took steps in obtaining a temporary restraining order. Gambling may seem non-essential to him. But, as this juncture in our state’s history, it is an industry that contributes to the well-being of Indiana.
Editorials
Editorial: Governor’s shutdown threat a bad decision
- Editorials
-
-
Editorial: Memorial Day helps put face on wounded warriors
This is the perfect weekend to thank a veteran, an active duty service member or a wounded warrior for his or her service. Our positive, encouraging response goes a long way in defining our society.
-
Editorial: Honor those who fought, and celebrate our freedom
This weekend, keep in mind the reason for Memorial Day — to remember those who have been so important in our lives, especially those who made the supreme sacrifice in military service.
-
Editorial: Governor candidates offer conservatism, moderation
The jockeying for position has begun in what is basically a two-horse gubernatorial race. Each offers voters a legitimate option. The November outcome may offer a simple referendum on the mindset of voters: Are they most persuaded by Mike Pence’s conservatism or by John Gregg’s moderation?
-
Editorial: Keep up the chorus against the landfill
Occupy Anderson has joined the ever-growing chorus against the proposed Mallard Lake landfill. Sam Mudd, a member of Occupy, is taking his studies on how the landfill might pollute Anderson’s water to areas of the county to drum up support against the landfill.
-
Editorial: Find a buyer for former school or tear it down
If a buyer wants the former Pendleton Heights Middle School, fine, but put no more taxpayer money into it.
-
Editorial: Libraries must adapt to serve communities
Certainly, the Friends of the Anderson Public Library needs space to store and sell used books, records, DVDs and other material. But library supporters and staff must be flexible in this ever-changing world to keep public facilities relevant.
-
You Said It: About Walking Men, the Queen of Disco and settled lawsuits
Each Monday, The Herald Bulletin publishes “You Said It,” a compilation of reader comments from www.theheraldbulletin.com.
-
Editorial: Ockomon-Spencer saga hurt city's reputation
Wednesday, May 16, was a sad day for Anderson taxpayers forced to pay a $128,000 bill that ends a saga that never should have started
-
Editorial: It's Pendleton's time to shine this weekend
The residents of Pendleton can be a little prouder of themselves today. Two events capture the community spirit that makes the town one of the gems in our region.
-
Editorial: Little 500 Festival, local events heating up Saturday
Like the Indianapolis 500, Anderson Speedway’s Little 500 should be on the bucket list for folks living in the Madison County area.
- More Editorials Headlines
-
