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Iowa Senate Chair Stalls Casino Deal

DES MOINES, Iowa – As reported by the Sioux City Journal: "A day after Iowa Senate leaders and racetrack casino interests settled on a gaming tax structure, the chairman of a Senate committee refused on Wednesday to act on legislation sealing that deal.

"Sen. Larry McKibben, R-Marshalltown, said he wants to delay taking up a bill approved by the House that sets new gambling tax rates. He contends it would cost the state and Iowa taxpayers around $250 million.

"…Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo accused McKibben of 'holding the bill hostage' because it could pave the way for gambling expansion and new casinos.

"Dotzler said he was skeptical of McKibben's motivation for blocking the bill since McKibben represents a number of employees of the Meskwaki casino near Tama.

"…McKibben said his committee might choose to move forward with a bill that would assess a statewide property tax on casinos, but in the meantime wants to speak with other lawmakers about the potential for changing the tax rates in the House bill…"

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