Pair of constitutional amendments on statewide ballot

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri voters on Tuesday will decide the fate of proposed amendments to the state constitution that separately would authorize casino gambling beyond the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and into the Ozarks and strengthen the state's existing ban on same-sex marriages.

Amendment 1 would allow a casino in the small town of Rockaway Beach. It was placed on the ballot via an initiative petition drive spearheaded by supporters of the project.

Missourians for Economic Opportunity, a pro-Amendment 1 group, has engaged in a heavy advertising campaign in most of the state's media markets. The campaign had raised nearly $12 million for the effort, with the casino's investors putting up the bulk of the money.

Show Me You Care, a group opposing the measure, had raised about $1.4 million. Herschend Family Entertainment Corp., which owns the Silver Dollar City and Celebration City amusement parks, and other businesses in nearby Branson are that campaign's primary financial backers.

Amendment 2, the same-sex marriage measure, was put on the ballot in the spring by an act of the legislature.

The Constitution Defense League started running anti-Amendment 2 ads last week and had raised nearly $364,000 for its campaign. The Coalition to Protect Marriage in Missouri, which supports ratification, had raised only about $5,400 but is relying on outreach through churches and community groups to relay its message.

Amendment 1

A "yes" vote is to authorize casino gambling along the White River in southwest Missouri within the Rockaway Beach city limits. If the amendment is ratified by voters, the Missouri Gaming Commission would still have discretion on whether to approve a license for a casino to operated in the town. The license application process could take years.

If the casino is built, it is estimated to generate as much as $12.4 million a year in direct gambling revenue for affected local governments and up to $49 million annually for the state.

The state's share would be earmarked for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Half of the revenue would go for improving salaries of "high quality teachers employed in priority schools." The remaining half would be distributed to priority schools on a per-pupil basis for facilities improvements. The terms "high quality teachers" and "priority schools" are not currently defined in law or by the proposed amendment.

Supporters say a casino would revitalize the struggling economy of Rockaway Beach, pumping a $100 million investment into the community and creating 1,000 year-round jobs. They also say the state's take for the gambling revenue would provide needed revenue for poor-performing school districts.

Opponents say a casino would tarnish nearby Branson's reputation as family friendly tourist destination and pave the way for a further expansion of the gambling industry throughout the state. They also say the state revenue generated by the casino would be divided among a handful of school systems, instead of being shared by all local districts as is the case with revenue from Missouri's 11 existing casinos.

Amendment 2

A "yes" vote is to add a provision to the state constitution's Bill of Rights stating that Missouri shall only recognize marriage as being between a man and a woman.

Supporters say it is needed to ensure that Missouri courts couldn't someday rule that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry.

Opponents say the amendment isn't needed because state law already prohibits same-sex marriages and that discrimination shouldn't be written into the state constitution.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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