Monday, March 12, 2007

Texas voters would get to decide whether to open Speaking Rock Casino and 11
other gaming destinations state wide and dedicate some of the gambling
revenue to financial aid for college students under a bill filed Thursday.
"Texans are already voting with their feet and going out of state" to
gamble, said state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston. "It's time for Texas to
reap the economic benefits and use that revenue to help Texas students go to
college." If two-thirds of the state's 181 legislators and a majority of
Texas voters approve the measure, a newly created Texas Gaming Commission
would be able to grant operating licenses to 12 casino projects. Three of
those casinos would be on tribal land in Texas, including the Tigua's
Speaking Rock Casino in El Paso. "We're all in favor of anything that's
going to keep the revenue in Texas, and I'm glad they're including us in the
bill," said Tigua tribal Gov. Art Senclair. State Sen. John Carona,
R-Dallas, has long opposed gambling, but he joined Ellis in filing the
casino