proverb: Putting the Cart before the Horse meaning: reversing the accepted order of things; To put things in the wrong order or with the wrong priorities; to put something inconsequential as more important than something more essential.
synonyms: ass-backwards
other meaning: Senator Rosenberg's accepted order of expanded gambling
Well, it seems that Senator Rosenberg is at it yet again....the lastest news in the Casino Chronicals is a press release by USS where Senator Rosenberg clearly does not understand Federal Policy on Indian Gaming or is just ignoring the fact that if there is no Class III Gambling in this State - then there is no threat of Indian Casinos - meaning no rush to push a gambling bill to beat anyone to the punch...
Yet once again, in the spirit of all that is casino related, Senator Rosenberg claims that, if a final bill is passed by the Legislature, it will include a regulatory structure to control Native American tribes seeking permission from the federal government for expanded gambling. So hey, don't worry about it.......uuummmmm......Senator.....you really can't control that - once you make Class III gambling legal in this state then you open the door for Federally Recognized Tribes to open their own casinos on trust land that is exempt from local, state, and many federal regulations. This Senator, or any of them who support this ridiculous bill and claim they can control Indian gambling expansion in Massachusetts is living in a dream. If any of these Senators want to control that, well....then don't allow expanded gambling in this State. Period. No Class III gambling, no Indian Casinos.
Yeah - its just that simple. So why spend all this needless time trying to write laws to control an industry that cannot be controlled...just say NO!
Jeez...I am so sick of this bull from the Casino Booster Club of Senators Ringleader Rosenberg. And honestly, I'm not sure what scares me more -- the idea that maybe they just don't understand Federal Indian Policy or the idea that they are ignoring it for their own personal (special) interests, or that they just don't care, and certainly don't listen. Really, where the heck were these guys when the Governor tried to use the same scare tactic to get his three casino bill passed?
In the words of a super smart and funny and wonderful friend of mine.....at least our former Attorney General has a pulse...
Legislators keep saying they are working to control a flood of tribal casinos but what they don't acknowledge or, worse, don't realize is that they are the ones poised to open up the floodgates," said Scott Harshbarger, the former Massachusetts Attorney General.
I have to say that I have been quite impressed with former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger and his obvious understanding of the issues - the negative impacts - in regards to expanded gambling in the Commonwealth. That and his totally seeing the idle threat that Indian casinos are if Class III gambling is illegal in this State. So yes, he has it right when he says they are poised to open the floodgates and they won't be able to control it.
Yet Rosenberg keeps saying we have to beat them to the punch...oh, and don't worry because we are going to protect the citizens of this State through regulation...uuuuhhhh.....yeeeaaah......not feeling the warm and fuzzy there Senator. What part of exempt from State regulations are you not understanding?? And not for nothing Senator, we have already been down this road with the Governor.
Oh, and speaking of roads.....we have already been down the Indian Tribal Casino Road too. The idea of using the threat of Tribal casinos to push a careless, irresponsible and rushed expanded gambling bill just astounds me at this point.
Kathleen Conley Norburt, President of United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts and author of the blog Truth to Power had this to say....
"Legislative leadership is either confused or are simply justifying their drive to satisfy the backers of the special interest gambling bill," said Norbut. "Politicians legalizing slots are the 'horse' and unregulated tribal casinos are the 'cart.' They are telling us the cart is before the horse and it just doesn't work like that."
Well, all I can say is this Chick isn't betting on their confusion of the issue....but that's me. Until pro expanded gambling Senators stop with the scare tactics that are blatant lies, quit with the promise of creating jobs while ignoring what casinos do to small businesses, stop telling us about all this revenue they can't even say for sure will exist because an independent cost benefit analysis didn't fit in with their election timelime, and actually start acting responsibly in regards to the citizens of this State, I have to go with corruption sprinkled with caring only for those special interest votes come November.
- It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself - Thomas Jefferson
- be the change you want to see in the world -
2 comments:
CC - Maybe our legislators would do something totally crazy and outside of the box, like, I don't know....read the law??? There are no gray areas with regards to Class III.
An excerpt from the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act:
(1) Class III gaming activities shall be lawful on Indian lands only if such activities are--
(B) located in a State that permits such gaming for any purpose by any person, organization, or entity, and
(C) conducted in conformance with a Tribal-State compact entered into by the Indian tribe and the State under paragraph (3) that is in effect.
Seems pretty clear to me.
...Ah but isn't it so much more fun for our legislators to play with the public while we pay them to do it? I mean, they only get 5 paid months off before they have to go back to work.
Great post, CC! Thanks for this!
By the way, did you know Stan and T.Murray were in Kentucky yesterday at a State Legislator convention, escaping from the stress of those gnawing casino bill deadlines and unpleasant conference committee deliberations, drinking mint juleps and rockin' to Wynonna Judd (live).
Stan was there to pick up an award for his dedication to the arts - no doubt for his impressive work of fiction based on the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
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