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Mission Industries to Quit Chamber

LAS VEGAS -- One casino company's falling out with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce has spread to one of gaming's biggest vendors, linen supplier Mission Industries.

Mission Industries made a decision "in the past few days" to quit the chamber, company president Doc Wiener said Friday, blaming the chamber's Carson City lobbying activities fighting casino-industry supported tax measures.

The privately held company has yet to notify the chamber of its decision, but intends next week to send a letter to the business lobbying group notifying the chamber of its intention to quit.

"It was an internal decision," Wiener said, adding that the company had not consulted with its major client, Station Casinos, which made a similar announcement last week.

Station Casinos Thursday said it was examining all of its major vendors' position on the tax issue and would consider ending its ties with any vendor that backed the chamber's tax proposals.

Mission, which employs 2,400 workers, made the decision for two reasons, he said. First, the company does much of its business with the casino business and wants to support the industry in its squabble with the chamber. Second, the company thinks the chamber is lobbying against Las Vegas interests, he said.

"We live here in Las Vegas," Wiener said. "The chamber needs to recognize the importance of the casino industry to Las Vegas and the state."

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