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Sharon Harris is going crazy. Or is she?
Ithink I must be crazy; I feel it, after reading of our public servants’ good life while the rest of us watch our wallets.
Excluding a short teaching stint, I have worked in small business my entire career. During those years, I enjoyed good years and sometimes weathered some storms. That is what businesses do. They prevail in tough times through determination and budgeting. However, after witnessing how Washington operates, I obviously missed my calling by not joining the government payroll.
As I wrote last month, virtually no one in Congress read through President Barack Obama’s $787 billion “stimulus package”. The language excludes financial aid for the gaming industry, and prohibits stimulus beneficiaries from meeting at casino properties.
Gaming gets nothing, but a second spending package allocates $410 billion for approximately 9,000 pet “pork” projects that Washington legislators want for their home districts. Admittedly, some may be admirable, but are seemingly useless projects like tattoo removal, pig manure odor control and lobster research worth millions?
Nevada Senator Harry Reid, the Democratic Majority Leader and a key architect of the stimulus, has since backpedaled. Writing to the Obama Administration, he requested a revision of “nonsensical regulations”. Its punitive interpretation of the language restricts stimulus funded groups – including civic and nonprofit charities – from meeting on casino property. Reid claims it hurts Nevada hotels. Truthfully, almost every casino jurisdiction is hurting.
Maybe if Senator Reid had closely examined the bill, he wouldn’t have to grovel to help his own state, let alone others. Ironically, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research reports that Las Vegas – the focus of Obama’s comments about frivolous tax-deductible spending – has lost 402 conventions and conferences from October 2008 to mid-March.
A recent Atlantic City Press cover story profiled several local small business owners impacted by casino profitability. As suppliers of laundry services, florists, drivers, piano tuners and even portable toilets for construction sites, they represent anonymous businesspeople servicing gaming venues. The thousands they employ keep casinos chugging along. Facing severe revenue declines, these vendors hope for a prosperous summer. Multiply that scenario by the millions of small American businesses in almost every gaming jurisdiction.
In my own New Jersey district, Republican Frank LoBiondo voted against the original stimulus bill. He currently co-chairs the House Gaming Caucus with stimulus supporter, Democratic Congresswoman Shelley Berkley of Las Vegas. They have united to eliminate the casino exclusion, but way too late to counteract the enormous early damage.
Should we expect more from our representatives? Of course, but Washington career politicians rarely feel the pain. Voter inertia means easy reelection, and once in, name recognition and political clout help fundraising.
For example, entering the Senate at 29, Vice President Joe Biden served 36 years before becoming vice-president. Dozens have also held Senate and House office for decades.
Politicians never experience pay cuts, downsizing, competition or millions of small details impacting responsible business executives. My late father claimed that sweating out a payroll forces efficient management and fiscal discipline.
Happily, New Jersey recently lifted an antiquated 1981 regulation. Drawing from a greater talent pool, casino employees residing in Atlantic City may now run for city government. However, casinos still may not employ local officials.
How wonderful for people in the business “trenches” to possibly benefit city government operation. Just look how experience and amassing a multi-billion dollar empire helped New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. As chief executives, state governors typically score well with the public. They address budget issues and juggle issues similar to business operations. Thankfully, most top gaming executives have demonstrated responsibility and prudence, getting it right more often than not.
We are all paying the price. Attainting credit remains a key problem for struggling casinos, meaning a shaky future for many. But Congress is fine; despite our economic tsunami, the 535 members awarded themselves a raise, and offered their staffers millions in bonuses. No performance review required there…
Where do I sign up?
Editor’s Note: On Income Tax Day, April 15, several hundred venues in all 50 states across America hosted public “tea party” rallies. Millions protested what they labeled the tax and spending abuses in Washington. Most mainstream media outlets downplayed them, but huge crowds, like the 12,000-plus who braved the cold in New York City or the 20,000 at the Georgia capital in Atlanta, reflect a clear dissatisfaction among US voters.
