Over the course of my campaign for governor, I’ve had a lot of people come up to me to ask me about gambling issues in Texas. In particular, I had a gentleman the other day approach me and ask me how I felt about the fact that you can’t even play Texas Hold’Em at least for money in Texas.
I told him I thought it was sad that our state leaked millions upon millions of dollars to Louisiana that could be helping fund Texas public schools.
Yesterday afternoon, I rolled out a three-part plan that will both fund improvements to Texas public schools and allow Texans the opportunity to vote on whether or not they want casino gambling in Texas.
The core of that plan would allow Texas’s existing racetracks (pending voter approval, of course) to operate full casinos (not just VLTs) and allow for the opening of a limited number of destination style resort casinos.
Texans want better public schools. And, according to a poll taken earlier this year, Texans want to be able to play Texas Hold’Em (and other casino games) in Texas.
In short, it is time for Texas to decide if we’re going to hold’em or fold’em.
Our state’s current and most recent former governor repeatedly passed the buck on major school finance reform and educational improvements. Yes, they proposed some plans and new taxes, but nothing that generated any really significant new revenue to improve educations.
If voters allow casino gambling in Texas, it will be a source of new revenue to fund improvements to Texas public schools more than $1.3 billion a year in new revenue, in fact.
Absent any similar new significant revenue stream, Texas public schools will continue down their current path, and we won’t see any major improvements to public education. It’s like folding and walking away from the table when you have a bad hand.
Texans want better public schools. And, according to a poll taken earlier this year, Texans want to be able to play Texas Hold’Em (and other casino games) in Texas.
It is a win-win situation. Our schools win. Our communities and cities win because it will be a boon to economic development. The agriculture industry particularly horse breeders win. The state wins because it is a new revenue stream for public schools without higher property taxes. Texans win because it creates more jobs and more economic opportunity for Texans.
