Texans should keep close tabs on their legislators regarding Rep. Todd Hunter’s new Texas Tourism Caucus and gambling expansion.
Hunter, a key Straus ally, has been touting gambling expansion since the end of last session. Speaker Straus’s family are in the gambling business and need a bi-partisan 2/3 majority of legislators in both chambers to expand their gambling oligopoly.
The Caller article that reported Hunter’s new caucus said it has a bi-partisan 2/3 majority of Texas legislators in both chambers.
On the same day of Hunter’s caucus announcement, Texas Association of Businesses (TAB) leader Bill Hammond announced support for gambling expansion, focusing his talking points around tourism.
In reporting the story, radio station WOAI tried to paint TAB as an outfit with conservative clout. This is inaccurate. TAB is a government rent seeker at cross-purposes with conservatives, and only has lobby clout.
Considering the fact that increased gambling creates a predictable heavy union influx, Texas businesses should be particularly wary of the effort.
Could the Texas Tourism Caucus be a trojan horse for gambling? It is worth voters and grassroots activists keeping a sharp eye on.
Caller article on Hunter’s caucus
WOIA reporting on TAB