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Dear Friend of the Christian Action League,
Give me just a few minutes of your time and let me explain something very, very important. The Christian Action League really needs your help!!!
During the current legislative session, there has been a formidable endeavor to significantly expand gambling in our state. The initiative would authorize 4 new casinos and place thousands of video lottery terminals ( video poker machines ) all over the state. The state would get a sizable cut of the revenue.
The pressure on lawmakers to support this proposal has been intense. The Republican leadership in both chambers supports it, and the Senate leadership seems completely obsessed with making it happen, no matter what!
The process hasn’t been transparent either. Too much plotting and clandestine activity by various key legislative leaders has been going on in the shadows for months with the gambling industry. In my estimation, even though I am a Republican, what’s been happening is a stain on the integrity of the Republican Party – a party that a large portion of our citizens believe is the last bastion of traditional values in the public arena.
First, the proposal for gambling expansion was to be included in the state budget. This way, a lot of lawmakers would have been forced to vote for gambling, even if they were against it, so things included in the budget could get to their constituents. Moreover, the public couldn’t know who supported the gambling initiative because the vote wouldn’t be for a stand-alone bill on gambling, it would be a vote on the budget. This removes accountability and allows supporters of gambling – some of which have already received thousands of dollars in campaign donations – to hide their support.
But recently, the wheels fell off the leadership’s plan when some stalwart Republicans told them that they wouldn’t vote for any budget with gambling in it. This meant there wouldn’t be enough Republican votes to pass the budget.
But even then, gambling proponents kept the pressure on by coming up with a new plan for getting the gambling initiative over the goal line. They decided to put forward a bill separate from the budget, a measure that combines Medicaid expansion with the gambling expansion. In other words, if a legislator wants to vote for Medicaid expansion in the state, he/she has to vote for gambling. Yes, Medicaid is being held hostage to a gambling initiative.
I rarely agree with Governor Roy Cooper, but he was right when he tweeted Sunday night:
“GOP demand for passage of their backroom casino deal in exchange for a state budget and Medicaid expansion is the most brutally dishonest legislative scheme I’ve seen in my 3+ decades. People are right to be suspicious. Something has a grip on Republican leaders and it’s not the people of NC. – RC”
Senate and House Democrats have followed up the Governor’s remarks with their own statements, saying they are opposed to the way things are being handled and will not cooperate with such political shenanigans. Good for them!
What is more, our state is very much in debt to the few Republicans who are bravely standing up against their own leadership to prevent the sea change gambling will bring to North Carolina. But they need your help. They need you to call your legislators and ask them to vote against gambling expansion in any form.
Here are seven ways in which the introduction of gambling establishments impacts a community and its culture:
- Economic benefits from gambling are not typically evenly distributed, with most jobs in the industry being low-wage positions. Local businesses that are not affiliated with the casino suffer as consumer spending shifts to the casino.
- The gambling culture leads to increased problem gambling, addiction, and associated social problems, such as family breakdowns, crime, and bankruptcy. Studies have shown a correlation between the presence of casinos and certain types of crime, such as theft and embezzlement.
- Over-reliance on gambling revenue can lead to budgetary problems if the gambling industry experiences fluctuations, which often happens. It also creates an incentive for the government to prioritize gambling interests over the well-being of its citizens.
- The arrival of casinos erodes a community's traditional character, as it becomes associated more with gambling than with its original cultural identity.
- Gambling enterprises rely heavily on tourism and can make communities vulnerable to economic downturns, such as those caused by natural disasters or changes in travel trends.
- The promotion of gambling conflicts with certain community values, particularly in areas where it is viewed for what it really is - a vice and an issue of moral concern. This should be of the greatest concern to communities where the House and Senate Republican leadership has indicated they want the casinos to be located – rural areas – Anson, Nash, Rockingham, and Robeson counties.
- When gambling is introduced, it is truly not hyperbole to say corruption follows.
I implore you to help us turn gambling back and send it to the pit of hell from which it came.
Here’s what you can do. Lawmakers will be voting this week, probably Wednesday and Thursday.
- Please pray for the defeat of the gambling legislation. Pray for our lawmakers. Pray for those who are standing up to this predatory industry. Pray for our great state. Pray for the Christian Action League.
- Contact your legislator in the State Senate and House. Ask him/her to vote, NO, on any gambling expansion. (You are free to use any of the talking points above.) It’s better to phone them than send an email. Emails are often lost in the shuffle of the hundreds of emails that they can get daily. Call them!
If you don’t know who represents you in the North Carolina House and Senate, go to the following link and get their contact information: https://www.ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators
Please pray and act swiftly. Time is of the essence. This matter is likely to be settled before the end of this week. You must act right away!
Thank you,
Rev. Mark Creech
Executive Director
www.christianactionleague.org
rev.markcreech@christianactionleague.org
919.915.3033
6325 Falls of Neuse Rd.
Suite 35-106
Raleigh, NC 27615
P.S. Would you consider a generous gift to the Christian Action League at this time? Your gifts keep the Christian Action League working to represent your Christian values every day the North Carolina General Assembly is in session. We would appreciate your help. To give, please go to this link on our web page, where your gift may be safely given online. If you choose to mail your contribution, please send it to: Christian Action League, 6325 Falls of Neuse Rd. Suite 35-106, Raleigh, NC 27615. Thank you!
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