Virginia State Senate approves casino referendum legislation

The Virginia State Senate has reportedly passed amended legislation that may observe casinos approved for up to five independent cities so long as their regional populations have approved of such places using a referendum.

Legislation’s next step:

According to a Monday report by the Bristol Herald Courier newspaper, the step passed throughout the 40-member body by a margin of 28 to twelve and is now set to be put to a vote before the similarly-Republican-controlled Virginia House of Delegates.

Study amendment contained:

However, the newspaper reported that the recently-passed legislation now also includes an amendment which would require the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission as opposed to the Virginia Lottery Board to conduct a review before the end of next year to the pros and cons of legalized casino gambling. This provision would prohibit any of the five Virginia communities of Bristol, Richmond, Danville, Portsmouth and Norfolk from running their own referendums until after the full General Assembly had reviewed the findings of this question and took action.

Bristol belief:

The Bristol Herald Courier noted that Virginia State Senator, Bill Carrico, co-sponsored the original measure and had hoped that his fellow legislators would have enabled the five communities to maintain their referendums at the same time as the analysis was being conducted. The 57-year-old Republican represents the area around the southern town of Bristol and is purportedly in favor of a plan which would visit local businessmen Clyde Stacy and Jim McGlothlin spend upwards of $250 million in order to transform the site of the former Bristol Theater into the new Bristol Resort and Casino.

Inquiry postpone:

Norment to WJHL-TV…

“It only struck me as being rather unusual that we were carrying an informative study which was likely to have absolutely no bearing whatsoever on informing the Republicans or informing us as a legislative body exactly what the potential consequences of gambling would be in Virginia. ”