The House Agriculture Committee changed HB12-1280 today, but they did not "fix" the measure, as far as Protect Our Neighborhoods (PON) is concerned. We opposed the bill in its original form because it ignored the constitutional requirements for both a statewide and a local vote before casino gaming can be expanded. Those concerns were not addressed in the House Agriculture Committee amendments.

The proponents of HB12-1280 want us to believe that they now only want one casino on the Western Slope, rather than six casinos located all over Colorado, as called for in their original bill. We doubt they will be satisfied with one casino in a relatively small market. If they are allowed to usurp the constitution this year, does anyone doubt that they'll be back in future years pushing for additional casinos in larger markets on the Front Range?

The measure will be considered next in the House Appropriations Committee. PON urges all Coloradans who care about the integrity of our Constitution and principle of local control to contact Appropriations Committee members and urge them to oppose HB12-1280.

Chair, Jon Becker (Adams +) jon.becker.house@state.co.us

Vice- Chair, Cheri Gerou (Jefferson) cheri.gerou@gmail.com

Members:

Jerry Sonnenberg (Bill Sponsor, Logan/Weld+) jerry.sonnenberg.house@state.co.us

Glenn Vaad (Weld) glenn.vaad.house@state.co.us

Marsha Looper (El Paso) marsha.looper.house@state.co.us

Brian Delgrosso (Larimer) brian@briandelgrosso.com

Mark Ferrandino (Denver) mferrandino@yahoo.com

Bob Gardner (El Paso/Fremont) bob.gardner.house@state.co.us

Deb Gardner (Boulder) deb.gardner.house@state.co.us

Dickey Lee Hullinghorst (Boulder) dl.hullinghorst.house@state.co.us

Andy Kerr (Jefferson) andy.kerr.house@state.co.us

Dan Pabon (Denver) dan.pabon.house@state.co.us

Judy Solano (Adams) judy.solano.house@state.co.us

For Immediate Release: February 28, 2012
Contact: Charlie Brown, 720-337-6666

The Colorado Municipal League (CML), representing 265 Colorado cities and towns, is the latest local government organization to come out in opposition to HB12-1280, the measure by State Rep. Don Coram, R-Montrose, to bring at least three super casinos to Front Range and Western Slope communities.

CML joins Colorado Counties, Inc., representing county commissioners from all 64 Colorado counties, in opposing the bill. The City of Aurora and the Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners are also fighting the bill, as is Action 22, a coalition of businesses and communities in 22 Southeastern Colorado counties. Should HB12-1280 become law, the first of the new super casinos is almost certain to be located at the Arapahoe Park racetrack in Eastern Arapahoe County, near Aurora.

The House Agriculture heard testimony on the bill February 22, but delayed taking a vote.

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By Tim Hoover

Supporters of allowing an Aurora horse track to operate businesses with "video-lottery terminals" — devices similar to slot machines — are back at the state Capitol this year with another proposal.

This time, supporters say, there's more money for community colleges in the deal and provisions requiring local officials or voters to approve any video-lottery operations in their areas. House Bill 1280 is sponsored by Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling, Rep. Don Coram, R-Montrose, and Sen. Lois Tochtrop, D-Thornton.

It has bipartisan support and opposition.

"We believe that House Bill 1280 will create more than 1,200 good-paying, full-time jobs for Coloradans while generating as much as $95 million annually in new revenue for the state without raising taxes," Sonnenberg said.

But opponents — casinos in Colorado's three mountain gambling towns — say that despite a few tweaks, the proposal is essentially the same as one that died in the 2011 session. "Last year, they put lipstick on the pig, and this year they put lipstick and false eyelashes on the pig," said Katy Atkinson, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Gaming Association, which represents the casinos. (Continue reading.. )

By Katharhynn Heidelberg

State Rep. Don Coram wants the state to take a gamble on funding tuition for higher education — a literal one.

The Montrose Republican is in the process of drafting legislation that would allow video lottery terminals at limited locations, likely the racetrack at Arapahoe Park in Aurora, and a possible Western Slope location.

“We’re still in the drafting stages,” Coram said Wednesday. “We’re trying to think outside the box, to do something to generate money for higher education. This is revenue that’s generated voluntarily. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to play it.” (Continue reading... )

By Charles Ashby

DENVER — Horse racing with casino gambling may be coming to the Grand Valley.

Though he knows he will generate a lot of controversy in what already is expected to be a contentious legislative session, Rep. Don Coram is planning to introduce a bill into the Colorado Legislature to allow horse-racing tracks to also have casino-type slot machines. The Montrose Republican said the bill he expects to introduce later in the 2012 session, which starts today, would call for allowing two tracks on the Front Range and one on the Western Slope to have slot machines. (Continue reading... )

By Ed Sealover

Arapahoe Park officials and horse-racing advocates may make another legislative attempt in 2012 to expand video gaming to the Aurora-area horse track.

Bill Ray, a spokesman for track owner Mile High Racing and Entertainment Inc., confirmed that owners of the track in unincorporated Arapahoe County are examining the feasibility of running a bill for the second straight year to place video lottery terminals (VLTs) at or near the facility.

They’re reviewing how to address criticism about the failed 2011 bill and examining where proceeds from VLTs should go, he said. (Continue reading... )