GOP rejects ban on gaming money

A proposal to ban the Republican National Committee from accepting contributions from the casino industry was voted down today in Washington.

Members of the RNC's Resolutions Committee defeated the measure by a 6-2 margin during a closed-door debate.

Casino industry leaders and Nevada Republicans, who had strongly opposed the resolution, which was pushed by the conservative wing of the party, hailed the vote afterwards.

"I believe the Resolutions Committee acted responsibly today in defeating overwhelmingly the resolution in question," said Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the Washington-based American Gaming Association.

"Neither political party should approach the slippery slope of subjective litmus tests upon which to base support of duly nominated party candidates or to determine the type of contributor that can make legal political contributions.

"What's next? A prohibition of contributors and candidates who enjoy a glass of red wine with a steak dinner?"

Mike Dayton, chief of staff to Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., added: "Obviously, we're very pleased by the overwhelming rejection of this anti-gaming resolution. And we are confident that the Republican leadership in the House will have a good working relationship with the gaming industry."

Nevada Republican Party Chairman John Mason, who traveled to Washington to address the Resolutions Committee, said he pointed out the "depth and breadth" of gaming in the country during the debate, which took place at the Capitol Hilton.

"I think that gaming is a part of American life," Mason said. "It's legal and practiced in 48 states. There's no evidence that I've seen seen that it's an insidious or dangerous activity."

Mason said today's vote means the measure won't be considered by the entire RNC membership later this week.

But Jim Mulhall, vice president of governmental relations for the Nevada Resort Industry, said the vote should remind the industry it needs to remain vigilant.

"While this is good news, it underscores once again the threat the industry is under from extreme conservatives," Mulhall said. "I think we are going to face more of these before people realize that these efforts won't get anywhere."

Mason said proponents of the proposal have vowed to renew the fight when the Republican Party puts together its platform at its national convention in Philadelphia in 2000.

Today's resolution was submitted by Buddy Witherspoon, a conservative committeeman from South Carolina.

Witherspoon, who has come under fire for being a member of a white segregationist group, called gambling "unconscionable" in the resolution and said it leads to "increased crime, marital strife, child abuse and neglect."

His proposal has heightened a rift between the religious right wing of the GOP, which opposes gambling, and its moderate wing, which has welcomed millions of dollars in casino industry contributions into the party in the past decade.

Among those pushing the ban are Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., one of the architects of legislations creating the National Gambling Impact Study Commission, and James Dobson, a panel member and influential religious right leader. The Impact Study Commission is preparing to issue its report on the state of legalized gambling in America to Congress in June.

In the past several years, most of the leading moderate GOP members have received campaign contributions from gaming. Former presidential candidate Bob Dole, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi, House Majority Leader Dick Armey and ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich all have been to Las Vegas on recent fund-raising trips.

Before the vote, Fahrenkopf called the proposal "meaningless."

"It's a stupid resolution, and even if it were to pass, it has no enforceability," he said. "The only downside to this is the RNC will be embarrassed."

Gibbons had sent a two-page letter to RNC members on Wednesday condemning the resolution.

"It is my hope that you will consider the ramifications of denying the largest industry in my state the right to participate in our political process," wrote Gibbons, the lone Republican member of the Nevada congressional delegation.

"The mere consideration of this misguided proposal is an attempt to thwart the GOP's longstanding promise to ensure the right to be heard -- the right to participate in the political process."

archive