Harry Reid Finds Excuses to Give Casinos Billions
US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wants to remove the provision of the stimulus bill that forbids the giving of money to casinos. Reid says the rules need clarification, because exempting casinos from receiving bail-out money may hurt charitable causes and public service groups. Reid took time off from his enormous Congressional spending spree to ensure someone spoke up for his bosses back in Nevada. In a letter, Reid asked President Obama to reconsider restrictions that may prevent non-profit organizations from booking casino convention space.
The stimulus bill was amended to exclude casinos and recreational projects such as golf courses and zoos after Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman cited the need for several hundred million to erect a museum detailing Sin City's history with the mob.
Reid says that not only do casinos provide meeting space that is otherwise unattainable for charities, they also provide lodging for battered women sent by women's rights groups needing temporary shelter.
" Saying casinos deserve a handout because they are involved with charity is like saying AIG executives deserve big bonuses because they employ housekeepers. But Reid knows the Republicans are targeting him for an expensive and hard-fought race next election, and Reid knows who pays the bills in Nevada," says Congressional observer Rutger Hunterson.
Senator Tom Coburn, author of the addition to the stimulus, said through a spokesman that Reid's request is "a thinly veiled attempt to intimidate the White House into using stimulus funds to bail out Las Vegas casinos."
