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Casino Scandal Accusations Heat Up Iowa Attorney General Race21 June 2002IOWA – As reported by the Des Moines Register: "The race for Iowa attorney general heated up Thursday when a key Republican lawmaker accused Tom Miller, the Democratic incumbent, of mishandling a high-stakes case over casino taxes that could blow a hole in the state budget. "`I think it was an incompetently handled case by the attorney general's office,' said Rep. David Millage of Bettendorf, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and Miller's opponent. "Millage was referring to an Iowa Supreme Court decision last week that could cost Iowa up to $150 million in reduced tax revenue and refunds over the next year. The court ruled against the state in declaring racetracks shouldn't be required to pay a higher tax rate than riverboats. "It was a victory for the Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Altoona and for greyhound tracks in Council Bluffs and Dubuque. "…Bob Brammer, Miller's spokesman, rejected the charge, saying the attorney general's office handled the lawsuit `completely properly under Iowa law and procedure for this kind of case.' "…Millage said Miller and Gov. Tom Vilsack should have kept lawmakers informed of the case and the potential cost to the state, especially when lawmakers met for a special session last month to cover budget shortfalls totaling more than $400 million for the current fiscal year and next year…" |