Wednesday, January 02, 2013

Like the proverbial glove: Ed Clere, a healthy Horseshoe Casino, and Toll Free New Albany.

The best way for New Albany to avoid the considerable collateral damage of bridge tolls (which Rep. Clere has enthusiastically supported), is for Horseshoe Casino's indirect taxation to continue, and to thrive.

(Look at it like this. Jerry Finn, head of the Horseshoe Foundation, served on the Bridges Authority, so as provide an acceptable proxy to protect the interests of the Casino, a mission that was accomplished when tolling was removed from the Casino's main access bridge, the Sherman Minton ... meaning that implicitly, Finn knew all along that tolling would be bad, insofar as it would discourage Kentuckians from coming to Indiana -- which would be death to Horseshoe. All he (and Clere, for that matter) need do now is to extend what already has been proven, and help his adopted city, not by random flower plantings, but by helping it to avoid the pass-through price of bridge tolls)

As such, Rep. Clere is entirely correct in seeking a re-examination of all casino laws.

What I'd further recommend is that the Foundation, having understandably participated in the Horseshoe revenue protection exercise otherwise known as "no tolls on the Sherman Minton Bridge," provide matching money for the city to complete its streets before the coming deluge of motorized citizens passing through to flee the chaos of bridge construction and the larceny of tolling.

As we hold our breaths in utter futility, here's the article.

Indiana lawmaker calls for 'holistic look' at all casino laws, by Charlie White (C-J)

With a new Horseshoe Casino set to open March 4 in Cincinnati and the possibility of more casinos opening in surrounding states, Indiana needs to reassess its gambling policies, putting all options on the table, according to state Rep. Ed Clere.

Clere said Hoosier state lawmakers must find ways to shore up casino revenues — money the state has become “very dependent” upon — by reexamining the number of gambling licenses it allows, locations and the state tax structure.

“The Indiana legislature has made gaming policy in an incremental, ad-hoc, usually reactive fashion for two decades now, and I think it’s time to take a holistic look at all our gambling statutes,” said Clere, a Republican from New Albany.

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