Keno update/Speedup killed; "Choose Life" plates debated
By Fred Knapp , Reporter/Producer Nebraska Public Media
Feb. 24, 2017, 4:58 a.m. ·
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A proposal to modernize and speed up keno games was killed, and senators began debating whether “Choose Life” license plates should be offered, in the Nebraska Legislature Friday.
Last fiscal year, people wagered nearly $250 million dollars on keno games in bars, restaurants and keno parlors across Nebraska. But they had to use paper tickets, pay cash, and could only play every five minutes. Sen. Tyson Larson, chairman of the legislative committee that oversees gambling legislation, proposed to change that. Larson proposed allowing electronic tickets, accessible through an app, allowing people to use debit cards, and shortening the time required between games to four minutes.
In legislative debate Friday, he said making the games easier to play would make more money available for the communities that sponsor the games to use for projects that might otherwise require property taxes. “If you’re serious about property taxes, if you really care about property taxes, and looking at ways to reduce the property tax burden, this is money that’s going directly back to the cities and counties so they don’t have to raise levies or can further lower levies,” Larson said.
Sen. Ernie Chambers moved to kill Larson’s proposal, ridiculing the notion that it would help with property taxes. “I’m sure there are people who genuinely care about property tax relief scratching their head saying ‘You mean those idiots down there are now going to say that gambling is the way to fight the property tax level which is felt to be too high?’ Most of the benefit goes to the gambling operators. Addiction is going to be increased,” Chambers said, predicting additional costs for that.
Sen. Carol Blood opposed Chambers move to kill the bill. Blood, a former city councilwoman in Bellevue, talked about how that city spent its profits from keno. “It went to the Nebraska Veteran’s home in Bellevue. It went to the Bellevue senior center. It went to our police. It went to our fire. It went to a nonprofit that help(s) our police department by serving abused women and children. It went to the One World Center at its Bellevue location to help people who can’t afford dental work,” Blood said.
Overall, communities’ share of keno profits totaled about $20 million last fiscal year – about one half of one percent of property taxes collected in the state.
In addition to the property tax argument, Larson also offered a philosophical one, in response to critics who said his bill would increase gambling. “From my point of view -- my conservative point of view -- I believe it’s not government’s job to dictate to individuals what they can and cannot do. It does not infringe on their life, their liberty, or their happiness,” he said.
Sen. Suzanne Geist offered a counterargument, referring to people addicted to gambling. “I would just ask the family of the addict, or the addict themself, if this interferes with their pursuit of happiness. I can hit an app on my phone if I’m an addict and every four minutes place a bet,” Geist said.
After about an hour and a half of debate, senators voted to side with Chambers’ motion, killing the proposal for the year.
Later Friday, senators began debate on a proposal by Sen. Dan Watermeier to authorize “Choose Life” license plates for those who want to buy them. Watermeier said the plates would let Nebraskans express their views. “Twenty-nine other states offer the option of “Choose Life” license plates. I believe that Nebraska should join these other states in allowing motorists to express their support for pregnant women and those unborn through the purchase of these license plates,” Watermeier said.
Blood supported the proposal, saying it was more than a pro-life issue. “Whether you support this cause or not, I truly believe it’s about freedom of speech. With that said, would I also support pro-choice? I would,” she said.
But Chambers said the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states own their license plates and can prohibit things like the use of Confederate flag or support of the Ku Klux Klan. Chambers said he supports a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion, and opposes “Choose Life” license plates. “This plate I’m opposed to, because it chooses sides on a very contentious issue and we all know what that issue is, and we know this is a plate to choose sides and put behind it the state’s position,” he said.
The Legislature adjourned for the day without reaching a vote. Debate is scheduled to resume Monday, with more than two dozen amendments, most of them by Chambers, expected to stretch out debate on the bill.