****ACTION ALERT–TRIBAL GAMBLING COMPACTS PASS COMMITTEE ON COMPACTS****
The tribal gambling compacts negotiated between the governor’s office and the five tribes seeking new compacts were approved yesterday by the Committee on Compacts by a 15 to 1 vote.
Reasons the compacts should be rejected by the legislature:
• They keep the casinos open 24 hours per day, every day, instead of the 20 current hours during the week. For most casinos, this means keeping them open from 3:00 am to 7:00 am in the morning. Someone gambling on slots at 4:00 am in the morning during the week is the definition of a problem gambler. So the casinos are targeting problem gamblers to fill these hours. A perfect definition of the government supporting predatory gambling.
• All five tribes resisted an amendment that would have made them liable for injury caused by someone who had been sold too much alcohol at the gambling facility. They felt that rules that applied to Applebee’s or Chili’s shouldn’t apply to them. • The casinos would have the legal right to extend internal credit (markers) to patrons in amounts over $10,000. In states across the U.S. (e.g., Connecticut, Illinois, etc.) casinos have been able to go to court and put liens on debtors homes and attach their wages. The slogan for the program could be, “Reclaiming our land one mortgage at a time.”
• The new compacts would allow for five new casinos throughout the state., some full sized, some small or “legacy” casinos. We have TOO MANY CASINOS RIGHT NOW.
The legislature does not have the ability to amend these compacts once they get past the Committee on Compacts. They can only vote them up or down. They need to vote them down.
Please contact your State Senator ASAP, and ask them to vote against the compacts. If you do not know who your senator is, the procedure below will help you discover who he/she is, and the telephone number to call is the legislative switchboard at 505-986-4300.
Ask the operator at the switchboard to connect to your senator’s office. You will most likely have to leave a message with their secretary. Probably the only question they will ask is your address, or if you live in their district. Make your message short and polite. Say something like, “Please ask Senator ____________ to vote against the tribal gambling compacts.” Then add any additional remarks you have to make.
To find out who your senator is, along with their contact information, click on the “Find Your Legislator” page by clicking here
Below “Senate,” click on “Search by Name, District or Address.”
Below the field for “Name of Legislator,” click on “OR Search by Address.”
In the field “Enter address,” key in your home address, and below that click on the down arrow by “Political Body” to bring up “Senate.” Then click on the “Search” button above.
That will usually bring up the name of the senator from your district and his/her picture. Click on the senator’s name in the box, and it will open up their web page. Then use the instructions above in calling them by telephone.
Please act as promptly as possible since the compacts could appear on the Senate Calendar within a couple of days.
Please forward this email to your contact list.
Thanks for your help,
Dr. Guy C. Clark, chairman
Stop Predatory Gambling New Mexico