(Photo:
GARY EMEIGH/THE NEWS JOURNAL)
Casino owners have warned of layoffs and
a dip
in revenue to the state should the measures
fail
Casino bill, amendment head to House floor
A
bill giving financial relief for Delaware's casinos is heading to the House
floor for a full vote on the last day of the General Assembly, but there's a
catch.
General Assembly: Casino bill
A
proposed amendment to a $9.9 million casino relief package filed Monday
afternoon requires the state's three casinos to give back any state money they
receive if they lay off more than 3 percent of their workforce.
The
amendment, supported by House Democratic leadership, is a last-minute addition
to the mix and could complicate matters if the House approves it because it
would require another Senate vote. The bailout package is one of the last
big-ticket items left in this year's legislative session and is expected to be
heard at some point during Monday night's marathon session.
The
amendment was not filed to kill the bill, but to allay fears that the casinos
would lay off people even if they got the money, said Rep. Dennis E. Williams, a
Talleyville Democrat, and sponsor of the amendment. Casino owners have said that
no money would result in layoffs and a loss in service and revenue to the state.
But it's not certain that job loss would be prevented if they received a
bailout.
"I'm
still not in favor of the bailout, but I think it's important that if it does
pass that there are guarantees that those jobs will be saved," Williams said.
"If that's why they are saying they need the money, then let's make sure they
retain those jobs."
The
package, whittled down from an original proposition of $9.9 million in the first
year and $20.1 million in each subsequent year, was released from the House
Gaming and Parimutuel Committee with a 6-4 vote on Monday.
Bill
Rickman, Delaware Park owner, said the casino wouldn't lay anyone off. Delaware
Park employs just over 1,000 people.
"If
we had problems, we gave people incentives to retire earlier," he said. "We
don't lay people off."
Lawmakers
have debated the legislation, with some arguing that the state money could be
used for other needs, and others saying
it is a stabilizing measure meant to keep the state's partners in the casino
industry afloat.
Contact
Jon Offredo at (302) 678-4271 or at joffredo@delawareonline.com or on Twitter
@jonoffredo.
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