SEARCH NEWS:

 

Mississippi casinos excluded from tax breaks

JACKSON, Mississippi – As reported by the Biloxi Sun Herald: "Under pressure from one of the state's most powerful religious groups, the Senate on Wednesday approved an amendment to exclude casinos from a House bill to provide tax breaks for tourism projects.

"'If you vote no on this amendment and pass this bill, then you are giving tax breaks to casinos,' Sen. Hob Bryan, D-Amory, yelled at his colleagues. Bryan, usually flamboyantly liberal, sided with members of the hard-right GOP to pass the anti-casino amendment, which was authored by Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall.

"Bryant and Fillingane said it would be unfair to allow tax breaks for casino companies when legislation to provide a break on grocery taxes failed.

"…Supporters argued the tax breaks would apply only to investments casinos make in non-gambling attractions. The non-gambling investments the state Gaming Commission requires casino companies to make, such as hotels, also would not be given breaks…"

< Gaming News