Why is Gov. Walker Partnering with Casinos?

Written By: Travis Buhler  |  Posted: Friday, January 30th, 2015

            After years of investigation and indecision, Governor Walker and the Department of Administration decided to not allow a casino to be built in Kenosha.  According to a press release by the Governor,

   "After a comprehensive review of the potential economic impact of the proposed Kenosha casino project, the risk to the state's taxpayers is too great,' said Governor Walker.  "Due to the compacts negotiated by Governor Doyle, the current cost to taxpayers of approving the proposed casino project is up to $100 million and the long-term economic hit to the state budget would be a potential loss of hundreds of millions of dollars.'

   'We have had tremendous success in helping grow quality, family-supporting jobs in Kenosha, including the recent Amazon, InSinkErator, and Meijer Distribution Inc. expansions,' continued Governor Walker.  'We remain committed to using state resources effectively to continue growing the economy and creating jobs in Kenosha and around the state.'"

   Gambling casinos were once illegal in Wisconsin.  Then a generation ago, the Native American tribes of Wisconsin made compacts with the State of Wisconsin allowing certain casinos in exchange for special tax revenues that are given to the State.  On this basis, the Governor is able to determine whether or not to allow more casinos. What has resulted from this compact between the State and the Native American tribes is a lot of confusion on many levels.

   First, there is political confusion.  The clash between the Potawatomi, the Menomonee, and the State is too confusing to summarize.  Needless to say, Governor Walker had a lot of personal political issues at stake no matter what his decision would have been.  And 100's of millions of tax payer dollars were potentially at stake as well.  It is a mess and may continue to be a mess.

   Second, there is economic confusion.  Rather than focusing on the God-given duties of a government, and protecting our rights and rendering justice to those who violate them, the Governor is trying to be an economic genie.  He, like every other politician, thinks that he can significantly help "grow quality, family-supporting jobs" and use "state resources effectively to continue growing the economy and creating jobs in Kenosha and around the state."

   He is fooling himself in thinking that the government is the reason that the three above mentioned job-creators came to Wisconsin.  The same is true if he thinks that forbidding another job-creator (the casino) will also keep or increase jobs in Wisconsin.  It smells of pride for a politician to think that he should or even can determine or promote what happens economically in the State.

   Meanwhile, babies are being killed, children are being kidnapped by the State, properties are being forced out of owner's hands, marriage is being destroyed by Federal usurpers, and a whole list of other injustices which are being placed on the political back-burner due to a (government-caused) economic crisis that the Governor thinks should be his focus.

   This brings me to the third area of confusion: moral confusion.  Why is the State involved in casinos?  The current Governor should be exempt from most of the blame here since he inherited this mess, but it is his mess now.  Not only does the State allow the immoral act of casinos, it is in partnership with them and profits from them.  It has become the financial interest of the State to allow casinos and promote them.  The State is promoting immorality and the destruction that gambling causes to families and individuals.  No amount of gambling hotlines will atone for this.

   I prefer that the government stay out of the issue entirely.  While I sympathize with those who think it should be completely illegal to gamble, I think the prohibition of the practice only encourages the lawless to run underground gambling operations.  This encourages the criminal behavior needed to keep such actions undercover.  While gambling is foolish on all accounts, it is still a voluntary transfer of money and goods.  If gambling were 100% legal, there would be no need for those managing gambling operations to commit conspiracy, racketeering, blackmails, and other crimes.

   But neither of these two options (total ban or total liberty) are the policy of the State.  Instead, through compacts, raffle licenses, and the State-operated lottery, the State is a partner in immorality and the destruction gambling causes.  The Governor and the legislators should be ashamed and should end any involvement with this appearance of sin.  I recommend the reader use a portion of his gambling-funded tax credits to contact them and ask them to do so.

   Travis Buhler is the Managing Editor of the US Journal and the Eau Claire Journal and a regular Tuesday contributor to the Today morning show.  Email: .