Saturday, February 17, 2007

Legislators want the state to have a say in selecting presidential nominees.
That might happen if legislation that would move up the date of the primary
by a month next year, to Feb. 5, 2008, is passed. It is supported by members
of both parties. Republicans and Democrats alike are pushing to move the
primary election from the first Tuesday in March to the first Tuesday in
February. They contend it would give Texas voters a real say in each party's
nomination for president. Currently, the state's primary falls after several
others, sometimes after party nominations have been sealed. Several other
big states, including California and Florida, are also considering moving
their primaries to Feb. 5 in 2008. The effect could be replacing the old
Super Tuesday in March with a new slate of impact primaries a month sooner.
Dueling gambling bills A proposal in the Legislature to allow video slot
machines at Texas race tracks wouldn't boost the state's economy as much as
full-fledged resort casinos, advocates for casino gambling said Wednesday.
Legislation by Rep. Ismael "Kino" Flores, a Palmview Democrat, would allow
video slots at race tracks and American Indian reservations. Flores said his
measure would keep gambling dollars in Texas, help the financially
struggling Texas horse-racing industry and bring in $1.2 billion in new
annual revenue. On Wednesday, a day after the bill was filed, lobbyists and
other representatives of the Texas Gaming Association made rounds at the
Capitol to press their case for going much further in legalizing casino
wagering. The association wants destination resort casinos that it says will
attract tourist and convention dollars to Texas. "The state shouldn't fool
with it at all if they don't do it right," said Jack Pratt of Dallas, a
former hotel and casino developer who chairs the association. "Our bill does
it all, and it's the only sound way to do it."