Removing limits in gambling would boost education

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- In his plan to put more money into public schools, Gov. Bob Holden is banking on people losing more money at casinos.

Holden on Wednesday proposed removing Missouri's $500 loss limit per two-hour casino visit. He also suggested raising casino admission fees and casino revenue taxes, and introducing a new Missouri Lottery game similar to Keno.

Those steps would raise an estimated $177 million toward the $219.4 million needed to fully fund the formula for distributing aid to elementary and secondary schools, Holden's budget director said.

"I think the state of Missouri should get a better deal," Holden said at a news conference following his State of the State speech. "I'm trying to focus on getting additional revenue from gaming and other sources to fully fund our school foundation formula so every child in this state will get a good education."

Republicans criticized the assumption that gambling would produce enough fresh revenue to raise education funding by 10 percent.

"I think we will be cool to the notion advanced by the governor that Missouri can gamble our way to prosperity in the coming years," said Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau. "And it makes K-through-12 education that much more dependent on gambling revenues."

But many Democrats seemed to welcome the idea.

"There are lots of things you could do," said Sen. Ken Jacob, D-Columbia. "This is the easiest. ... I can't believe people are moaning and groaning about it."