CONCORD, N.H. <\/p>\n
Another vote on casino gambling is looming at the statehouse. <\/p>\n
During a public hearing Tuesday, opponents of expanded gaming laid out their arguments against adding video slots. <\/p>\n
It's not possible to be both anti-crime and pro-casino at the same time, Franklin Police Chief David Goldstein said, speaking on behalf of the Chiefs of Police Association. <\/p>\n
Goldstein pointed to the issues already plaguing our state, specifically the opioid epidemic. <\/p>\n
What sense does it make to introduce and legalize another form of addiction in our state? he asked. <\/p>\n
The group CasiNO opposes expanded gaming. <\/p>\n
Rusty McLear, co-owner of Lakes Region hotel Pres Mills Falls -- said casinos would have an unfair advantage as they lower their rates to attract gamblers. <\/p>\n
In essence, gambling will subsidize the restaurants and the rooms. How do we compete with that? The answer is we can't compete with that, McLear said. <\/p>\n
Newly sworn-in Attorney General Gordon MacDonald stood with longstanding tradition, urging house members not to pass the bill. <\/p>\n
\"The concern is, at bottom, that we've got an excellent quality of life and a very low crime rate and the nature of expanded gambling threatens both, MacDonald said. <\/p>\n
The bill's supporters maintain that the addition would provide a boost for business. <\/p>\n
We have a good bill. It's a strong bill. It's a bill that provides economic opportunity and job creation to people in New Hampshire, Sen. Lou DAllesandro (D-Manchester) said. <\/p>\n
Supporters said it's an uphill battle, but its one they will continue to fight as they look to have the bill passed by the House. <\/p>\n
\"The wealthiest people in the state of New Hampshire are opposed to the bill. It's quite clear. I give them a great deal of credit for the fight. We've been battling for the last two decades, we'll continue to battle, DAllesandro said. <\/p>\n
This bill has already passed the Senate, but as in the past, it is expected to have a much more difficult time in the House. <\/p>\n
WEBVTT OTS WHILE THE BILL'SSUPPORTERS MAINTAIN IT WOULDPROVIDE A BOOST FOR BUSINESS.>> IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO BE BOTHANTI-CRIME AND PRO-CASINO AT THESAME TIME. SIOBHAN: SPEAKING ON BEHALF OFTHE CHIEF'S OF POLICEASSOCIATION, FRANKLIN CHIEFDAVID GOLDSTEIN POINTS TO THEISSUES ALREADY PLAGUING OURSTATE, SPECIFICALLY THE OPIOIDEPIDEMIC.>> WHAT SENSE DOES IT MAKE TOINTRODUCE AND LEGALIZE ANOTHERFORM OF ADDICTION IN OUR STATE? SIOBHAN: THE GROUP CAS-NOOPPOSES EXPANDING GAMING.RUSTY MCLEAR, CO-OWNER OF ALAKES REGION HOTEL, SAYS CASINOS-WOULD HAVE AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGEAS THEY LOWER THEIR RATES TOATTRACT GAMBLERS.>> IN ESSENCE GAMBLING WILLSUBSIDIZE THE RESTAURANTS ANDTHE ROOMS.HOW DO WE COMPETE WITH THAT?THE ANSWER IS WE CAN'T COMPETEWITH THAT. SIOBHAN: THE NEWLY SWORN-INATTORNEY GENERAL STOOD WITHLONGSTANDING TRADITION, URGINGHOUSE MEMBERS NOT TO PASS THEBILL.>> THE CONCERN IS, AT BOTTOM,THAT WE'VE GOT AN EXCELLENTQUALITY OF LIFE AND A VERY LOWCRIME RATE AND THE NATURE OFEXPANDED GAMBLING THREATENSBOTH. >> WE HAVE A GOOD BILL.IT'S A STRONG BILL.IT'S A BILL THAT PROVIDESECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND JOBCREATION TO PEOPLE IN NEWHAMPSHIRE. SIOBHAN: SUPPORTERS SAY IT'S ANUPHILL BATTLE, BUT ONE THEY WILLCONTINUE TO FIGHT AS THEY LOOKTO HAVE THE BILL PASSED BY THEHOUSE.>> THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THESTATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AREOPPOSED TO THE BILL.IT'S QUITE CLEAR.I GIVE THEM A GREAT DEAL OFCREDIT FOR THE FIGHT.WE'VE BEEN BATTLING FOR THE LASTTWO DECADES.WE'LL CONTINUE TO BATTLE. SIOBHAN: THE BILL HAS ALREADYPASSED THE SENATE AS IT HAS INTHE PAST.<\/p>\n
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Public hearing held on expanded gambling bill - WMUR.com - WMUR Manchester<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" CONCORD, N.H. Another vote on casino gambling is looming at the statehouse Continue reading