Missouri
End of Session Report
Mark Andrews, Chairman
Evelio Silvera, Executive Director
May 25, 2007

WE DID IT! WE DID IT!
For the 13th year in a row
no bills to expand gambling passed
the Missouri Legislature.
Links below

In spite of enormous pressure from more than 30 casino lobbyists and the
sponsors of the bill to remove the $500 Loss Limit - Sen. Charlie Shields (R)
and Sen. Chris Koster (R), SB430 died in the Senate after the Perfection vote.
Even though the press was predicting this was the year that the
loss limit would be removed, their forecast was wrong.


The million dollars that the casinos poured into Missouri campaigns
almost seemed to guarantee removal of this loss limit protection
which prevents professional criminals from laundering money and
protects families from losing their home in one evening.

In the last two weeks of the legislative session, there is always a threat of
attaching the the loss limit removal to another bill. Everyone was holding their
breath until the last second, May 18, at 6 p.m. - the end of the Legislative Session.

HB 1287, designed to be soft on casino fines/crimes,
also died in the house.

THE HEROS

Sen. Bartle (R) courageously filibustered several times (into the wee hours)
with support from our ever faithful Sen. Loudon (R) and Sen. Perguson (R).
These senators were crucial in offering amendments that “poisoned” the bill
to the extent that the casinos said, “we no longer like the bill.” But the effort
to defeat SB430 did not fall on party lines. Sen. Green (D) and Sen. Kennedy (D)
were influential as the debate over SB430 raged on through the session.

CasiNO Watch had representation at the capitol nearly every day of the session.
The Missouri Teen Eagles spent several days talking with senators about the
importance of the loss limit's protection for families. MO Family Network,
MO Eagle Forum, MO Catholic Conference and Concerned Women for America
added strength to our position.

Your phone calls to the senators made some of them seriously
consider the wisdom of removing the loss limit.

TOGETHER WE DID IT!

POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS

HISTORY OF HB1287

THE $500 LOSS LIMIT