Opponents say ballot language is misleading
Read more: Local, State, Politics
COLE COUNTY -- A casino gambling question could be dropped from the vote this November after a last minute court challenge.
Proposition A is the most significant revision of the state's gaming law in over two decades.
A challenge by a Cape Girardeau businessman and state lawmaker came before Cole County Judge Richard Callahan Wednesday.
Proposition A would freeze the number of licenses for new casinos, would repeal the state's limit on gambling losses, and would increase the taxes casinos pay.
The extra money would boost state education funding.
The initiative is titled "The Schools First: Elementary and Secondary Education Funding Initiative."
"I think the Secretary of State did a great job of summarizing this measure," says "Yes on A" attorney Chuck Hatfield. "It's very clear what it deals with. It clearly discusses the changes that will be made to the gambling law and it clearly discusses the in excess of $100 million that will be raised for education. I'm not sure what more the Secretary of State could have done."
But Missouri State Representative Ray Salva of Kansas City say the Secretary of State approved ballot language that is not true and not accurate, focusing voters' attention on the funding benefits and not the gaming changes.
"There is no money here for education," says Rep. Salva, D-Sugar Creek. "This is about casinos, casinos, casinos. Instead of schools first, it should be casinos first, schools last and that's what this is about."
Opponents of Proposition A and it's ballot wording also believe the fiscal note prepared by the state auditor over-estimates how much money would be raised for schools.
Salva points the finger at the Missouri Gaming Commission who he says twisted the numbers when giving them to the state auditor, which in turn, misled both the attorney general's office and the secretary of state.
Judge Callahan plans to make a final ruling on the ballot wording issue Friday.
