Top Republicans and Democrats may not agree on much, but they joined Thursday at the Texas Capitol to proclaim they don’t want an expansion of gambling in the state.
"Empty promises to get rich quick do nothing but bring devastation and addiction," said Tina Benkiser, chair of the Texas Republican Party.
"We're being asked to gamble away our children's future in the biggest con game of all times."
Legislators looking to cut property taxes while giving more money to schools are considering more than 20 gambling proposals, including video slot machines at racetracks and Las Vegas-style casinos.
Conservative Republicans and a group of leading Democrats are working to block efforts to expand wagering.
Some Democratic leaders are accusing Republican legislative leaders of chicanery, saying they created a bad education bill that doesn't have the funding needed to truly end the Texas school
finance crisis.
The Democrats say those Republicans are secretly pushing gambling without publicly supporting it.
"If we get gambling, it wasn't a Democrat who gave it to you," said Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, to a crowd chanting "No slots" and toting signs with slogans like "Don't mess with the Texas
Constitution."
Republican Gov. Rick Perry last year included video slot machines in his own education finance plan.
But on Thursday he said he was never pushing the idea, only laying out an assortment of options for lawmakers to consider.
He said he still doesn't consider gambling legislation dead this session, although it would be difficult to pass.
"While the Legislature's still in town and working, and we've got 45, 50-plus days, and I would think everything's still on the table from the standpoint of a legitimate issue," Perry said.
TEXAS LEGISLATURE
Click Here For Texas House of Representatives Web Site
Click Here For Texas Senate Web Site
Click Here To Find Information About Specific Bills
Click Here For Texas House Speaker’s Web Site
Click Here For Texas Lt. Governor’s Web Site
Click Here For Texas Governor’s Web Site
Click Here For Legislative Budget Board Web Site
CENTRAL TEXAS STATE SENATORS:
Sen. Kip Averitt, R-McGregor
(State Sen. District 22 includes: Bosque*, Coryell*, Ellis, Falls*, Hill*, Hood, Johnson, McLennan*, Navarro, Somervell Counties)
Click Here For Averitt Senate Web Site
Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay
(State Sen. District 24 includes: Bell*, Blanco, Brown, Burnet, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Erath, Gillespie, Hamilton*, Kerr, Kimble, Lampasas*, Llano, McCulloch*, Mason, Menard, Mills*, San Saba*, Taylor Counties)
Click Here For Fraser Senate Web Site
Sen. Steve Odgen, R-Bryan
(State Sen. District 5 includes: Brazos, Burleson, Freestone*, Grimes, Houston, Lee, Leon*, Limestone*, Madison, Milam*, Robertson, Trinity, Walker, Williamson Counties)
Click Here For Ogden Senate Web Site
CENTRAL TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVES
Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana
(State Rep. District 8 includes: Anderson, Freestone*, Limestone*, Navarro Counties)
Click Here For Cook House Web Site
State Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie
(State Rep. District 10 includes: Hill*, Ellis Counties)
Click Here For Pitts House Web Site
State Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown
(State Rep. District 20 includes: Milam*, Williamson-part, Counties)
Click Here For Gattis House Web Site
State Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville
(State Rep. District 53 includes: Callahan, Coleman, Concho, Crockett, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, McCulloch*, Mason, Menard, Real, Runnels, San Saba*, Schleicher, Sutton Counties)
Click Here For Hilderbran House Web Site
Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp, R-Lampasas
(State Rep. District 54 includes: Bell-part*, Burnet, Lampasas* Counties)
Click Here For Hupp House Web Site
Rep. Dianne White Delisi, R-Temple
(State Rep. District 55 includes: Bell-part County)
Click Here For Delisi House Web Site
Rep. Charles Anderson, R-Waco
(State Rep. District 56 includes: McLennan-part County)
Click Here For Anderson House Web Site
Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco
(State Rep. District 57 includes: Falls*, Leon*, McLennan-part*, Madison, Robertson Counties)
Click Here For Dunnam House Web Site
Rep. Rob Orr, R-Burleson
(State Rep. District 58 includes: Bosque*, Johnson Counties)
Click Here For Orr House Web Site
Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville
(State Rep. District 59 includes: Comanche, Coryell*, Erath, Hamilton*, Mills*, Somervell Counties)
Click Here For Miller House Web Site
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