LANSING Michigan legislative Democrats, who despite their minority status were pivotal in the passage of a bill authorizing slot machines at the state’s horse racetracks, have pulled their support from the legislation – a major setback for the bill. And its problems are complicating completion of work on the 2003-04 and 2004-05 budgets as House Republican leaders are hesitant to proceed without first winning passage.
House Minority Leader Dianne Byrum (D-Onondaga) and Senate Minority Leader Bob Emerson (D-Flint) told supporters of the so-called racino bill Monday that Democrats would oppose the legislation pending the outcome in November on the ballot proposal requiring voter approval of any new or expanded gambling activity. Democrats also say any racino bill must replace the revenue that would be lost if a racino bill is enacted (several American Indian tribes would be allowed to halt payments to the state from their casinos if the gambling market changes).
Republicans control the House (63-46) and the Senate (22-16), but the racino bill (HB 4610) would not have passed each legislative house without Democratic votes. Democrats provided 35 out of 61 “yes” votes in the House and 13 out of 20 “yes” votes in the Senate.
Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm, in an interview with Gongwer News Service, also for the first time began laying out the conditions for her to consider a racino bill, one of which is the replacement of the revenue from the Indian tribes.
On April 29, when the racino bill passed the Senate, it looked like a sure bet that a bill would be sent to Granholm’s desk at a minimum. After all, it is rare to see a bill pass both legislative chambers and then die.
Now, it’s clear the racino bill, which is pending in a House-Senate conference committee, is in trouble.
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