Volusia County leaders keeping eye on Miami casino push
October 5, 2011Groups rev up to fight gambling expansion in Florida
October 5, 2011Florida’s loyal casino opposition
A group in Florida has been re-activated to fight plans to legalize casinos in the Sunshine State.
In 1994, No Casinos Inc. raised $1.5 million and successfully fought an effort to legalize casinos. The organization is headed by Orlando public relations consultant John Sowinski who summarized how elected officials from both major parties contradict core principals in the base by supporting casinos: “We will remind Republicans who count on the votes of conservative Republicans that you can’t be pro-families and pro-gambling at the same time,’’ he said. “And we’ll remind Democrats, who count on votes of those who want to protect the most vulnerable, that you can’t be for the less fortunate and for expanded gambling at the same time.”
Paul Davies
Get Government Out of Gambling
September 20th, 2011
A group in Florida has been re-activated to fight plans to legalize casinos in the Sunshine State.
In 1994, No Casinos Inc. raised $1.5 million and successfully fought an effort to legalize casinos. The organization is headed by Orlando public relations consultant John Sowinski who summarized how elected officials from both major parties contradict core principals in the base by supporting casinos: “We will remind Republicans who count on the votes of conservative Republicans that you can’t be pro-families and pro-gambling at the same time,’’ he said. “And we’ll remind Democrats, who count on votes of those who want to protect the most vulnerable, that you can’t be for the less fortunate and for expanded gambling at the same time.”
Sowinski also understands that elected officials often ram through gambling without much consideration of the policy ramifications. Instead, lawmakers are swayed by casino lobbyists and the lure of getting their hands on more tax revenue to spend.
“This is a different battle, in that it’s in the Legislature,’’ Sowinski said. “But the only chance it has to pass is if people in Tallahassee think they can do it in the dark of night — without the public paying attention. Our goal is to make sure it gets attention.’’