Mississippi Passes Law Allowing Casinos on Land

[barbaraann]

By Staff

(AXcess News) Biloxi MS - Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour signed a new bill into law Monday that permits casinos to build on land up to 800 feet from shore after hurricane Katrina destroyed barges, throwing some on shore. The law signed today differs significantly from the law previously in effect, which required that a casino site be constructed in, on, or above water and be located a minimum of 50% below mean high tide. The new law allows casinos to avoid any permits, authorizations, or leases that water-based construction would have required, but that land-based construction at sites may not require.

This bill is about more than gaming," Barbour said in a statement. "By signing this bill, the state is taking the necessary precautions to provide safety for the casinos and, in turn, is providing jobs for thousands of displaced Mississippi workers."

In the past conservatives had fought hard to keep casinos off the land, but after the devistating damage caused by hurricane Katrina, even the conservatives were passive about the move.
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Some casinos are already hinting at spending way more on rebuilding now that they can increase their facilities size and add more amenities such as show rooms and theaters. Before, the barges they were built on limited their ability to construct due to their size. Now its a different matter.
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http://www.axcessnews.com/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=6166

I guess gambling is a Republican "family value."

[Maddy McCall]

1. Actually, the "Religious Righters" here are pissed as hell.

Many have abandoned Barbour, who pushed for the law. You should hear them on radio call in shows.

[barbaraann]

2. Poor fools.

I guess he doesn't need them anymore.

[tahoedenver]

3. The American Family Association and this gambling business

I'm from the Coast and I am so sick and tired of those assholes up in Tupelo trying to stop us from having our economic advancement. It's ridiculous. I was listening the other day to those people talk, they are so obsessed with stopping gaming on the Coast even though it's over 4 hours away from them and they don't have a stake in it at all.

Barbour is Dubya right so these people are obviously over the fringe right. I wouldn't pay too much attention to what they have to say. But it's scary and sad at the same time that they have so much power.