Columnist Jeff German: Miller takes lead in hyping Las Vegas with federal commission

LET THE SPIN begin.

Gov. Bob Miller has gotten behind the wheel of one of the biggest spin control missions ever in Las Vegas.

The goal is to put Las Vegas in the most favorable light possible when the National Gambling Impact Study Commission comes to town Nov. 10-11 amid a crush of local and national reporters.

Miller recently sent a lengthy letter to Kay James, chairwoman of the nine-member commission, suggesting a series of speakers for the panel's upcoming visit.

It was the start of a massive public relations push that aims to bombard the commission with input in the coming weeks from a 54-member committee Miller created to prepare for the panel's high-profile visit.

Casino industry leaders are worried that the anti-gaming forces on the commission will have enough clout to stack the two-day agenda with witnesses outside of Las Vegas who are critical of the industry.

To a degree, that happened at the panel's last meeting earlier this month in New Orleans and Biloxi, Miss.

"As you are aware, modern-era Las Vegas has a very unique history with legalized gaming," Miller wrote James. "It would not be putting it too strongly to state that Nevada's strongest-in-the-nation economy has been built on a thriving gaming resort industry."

Miller suggested the commission hold a discussion on the great strides made in overseeing gambling in Nevada.

"Through trial and error over the years, we have learned how to successfully monitor gaming resorts and regulate gaming operations," Miller said. "With the proliferation of gaming throughout the United States, other states can and do study our example and attempt to learn from our experience and success."

Miller said such a discussion will demonstrate how poorly the federal government regulates Indian gambling, which threatens Nevada's casino industry.

Among those Miller suggested as possible witnesses are Nevada Gaming Commission Chairman Bill Curran and Gaming Control Board Chairman Steve DuCharme.

The governor said he hoped the commission also would add a discussion of gambling over the Internet to the Las Vegas agenda, which appears loaded with other like issues including sports betting, neighborhood or convenience gambling and casino credit practices.

Miller said the growing Internet phenomenon needs to be thoroughly examined.

On neighborhood gambling, the governor suggested the panel listen to Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones, Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson and state Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas, all of whom he said have "struggled with this issue" at the local and state level.

"In Nevada, our local communities are in an ongoing debate over the appropriateness of certain gaming operations in some of our neighborhoods," Miller wrote. "As you may well imagine, you will find a wide spectrum of opinions."

Miller said it was important for the members of Nevada's congressional delegation to address the panel on the success of gaming here. He said he also hoped that James would allow Harrah's boss Hector Mon, who chairs the Nevada Resort Association, to testify.

"The largest industry within the state of Nevada should be afforded time to address the concerns of the commission on the issue of legalized gambling," Miller wrote.

Miller offered the Citibank processing center at the Lakes and the Ocean Spray Cranberries plant in Henderson as possible site visits to show the economic diversity of Las Vegas. He also recommended the panel tour the Culinary Union's highly acclaimed training facility.

And the governor said private-public sector partnerships aimed at uplifting low-income neighborhoods, such as as Nevada Business Services, the Stupak MASH Village, Nevada Partners and the Boys and Girls Club of Nevada, could be possible tour sites.

Miller couldn't resist inviting the commission members to dinner during their stay in Las Vegas.

"It would be a pleasure for me to show all of you the Las Vegas you don't know; not the world-renowned destination resort visited by 30 million visitors a year, but the Las Vegas which is my hometown and the place so many Nevadans choose to live and raise our families."

Yes, let the spin begin.

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