Texas Candidate Kinky Friedman Proposes Casino Gaming

Humorist Kinky Friedman is running a serious campaign to be elected governor of Texas, and one of his prized ideas is bringing casino gambling to the state.

Humorist Kinky Friedman, noted as an author and musician, is again campaigning for Texas governor after a suprising showing last time, and he wants casino gaming to be a primary issue in his election run. Friedman says many of the state's problems could be solved by legalizing and taxing gambling.

The last time he ran, Friedman conducted a campaign that was largely tongue-in-cheek, using the slogan "How Hard Can It Be?". But voters resonated with the common-sense approach of Friedman, and he won an astonishing 13 percent of the vote.

The success has Friedman returning with more serious tones and intriguing positions, including a stance on casinos and gambling, a volatile proposition in the state. Texas lawmakers considered several forms of regulated gambling last spring, only to have a well-organized minority orchestrate a defeat of all gambling after greed prevented pro-gaming forces from uniting.

Friedman proposes to give teachers significant raises, removing tolls to make all roads free, and improving infrastructure. When KERA-TV asked the gubernatorial candidate how he planned on paying for his programs, the answer is simple.

"Do it all with casino gambling," Friedman told the station.

Friedman says Texans are still gambling despite laws against the hobby, only they are going to Oklahoma and Louisiana to do it. He suggests Texas would have all the money it needs if it kept those gaming dollars instate.