Kenosha Casino Would Be a Taxpayer Bonanza Print
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Written by Wisconsin Assembly, Laura Smith   
Thursday, 29 January 2015 17:58

rouletteA bipartisan group of Kenosha and Racine area elected officials say Walker is Wrong. Project would create up to 10,000 jobs, draw millions of new tourists each year.


MADISON – A bipartisan group of Kenosha- and Racine-area elected officials, along with local business and community leaders, has joined together to disprove Governor Walker’s statement that a new casino in Kenosha would cost taxpayers any additional money, much less the hundreds of millions of dollars the governor claims.

“When you start with a false premise, you end up with a false conclusion. Not only would taxpayers not be on the hook, this casino project would in fact be a bonanza for Wisconsin taxpayers,” Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) said. “This casino project would mean up to 10,000 good-paying jobs, millions of new tourists, up to $1 billion in revenue for state and local governments and other significant economic development opportunities – all at no cost to the taxpayers. Given those extraordinary benefits, we are again calling on Governor Walker to bring people together and find a way to get to ‘yes.’”

In the days before the governor announced his decision last week, the Menominee Tribe took two major steps to help the project move forward. First they agreed to a compact amendment aimed specifically at reducing the state's risk. Then they posted a bond to insure the state against any obligation to refund previous payments to Potawatomi.

“From the beginning, the Menominee have shown a continued willingness to compromise and work together to make this project a reality,” Rep. Barca said. “With the Menominee and Hard Rock having offered to cover any potential lost revenue to the state, this project is a win-win for the taxpayers, people who need good jobs and our economic climate. This is a wonderful opportunity for the Kenosha area and for all of Wisconsin and we hope the governor finally decides to take advantage of it.”

Yesterday a group of Kenosha-area supporters launched an online petition urging the governor to reconsider his casino decision: http://chn.ge/1EqFHBI. More than 2,000 supporters have already signed on.

A letter to the governor signed by a bipartisan group of 10 legislators is attached here.