North Carolina casino failure could pose major challenge for Senate leaders
Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, led a casino plan in North Carolina that failed this year, potentially leaving him facing a primary opponent in 2024.
Berger is the leader of the Tar Heel state's Republican Party, which controls both chambers of Congress, and earlier this year reached a compromise with Gov. Roy Cooper (D) on health care access. A pillar of Cooper's second term will be expanding the federal health insurance program under Obamacare.
In return for Republican support for more government support for health care, Berger sought to build a commercial casino resort in his hometown. Senate leaders also want to allow a casino in Anson and Nash counties.
Berger believes the casino will bring new tax revenue to the state and keep gambling money flowing to states surrounding North Carolina. Berger tried to get House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) and his colleagues on board to push the game forward. But the leader of the House of Commons said he couldn't get enough support to include Berger's gambling provisions in the state's delayed 2023-25 budget proposals.
The battle is not over
Much to Berger's chagrin, Senate leaders and Moore announced Tuesday night that they would "terminate the casino project" in 2023. Instead, they are pushing for budgets and expanded health care programs.
But for Berger, the political damage may have already been done. Despite being in a heavily Republican county, his decision to support casinos and gambling — generally unpopular with conservatives — raised some suspicion among those he represents in Raleigh.
Earlier this month, longtime Rockingham resident Dough Isley helped launch a nonprofit called Citizens for Good Growth in Rockingham County. The political group was formed to oppose Berger's efforts to build a casino in Rockingham.
Berger has reportedly signed a contract with Baltimore-based casino operator The Cordish Companies to build each of the three casinos. Cordish donated large sums of money to Berger and other North Carolina Republicans.
This is not the type of work I have seen from him in the past, and I have always been a huge supporter of Senator Berger. "I helped him campaign on the streets of downtown Reidsville," Isley told NBC 12."I would like to see this matter through to the end."
Isley added that if discussions about casinos continue before the 2024 election, when Berger is up for reelection, "we're going to have to find someone to put him at the forefront of."
Berger ran unopposed in the Republican primary in the 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022 elections.
Stay Away Yard Sign
Eisley said Rockingham residents have put the words "Make Our Community Great" on many of their yard signs. NO CASINO” should not be stored in the garage or thrown into the trash.
Isley believes Berger will continue its casino operations during the state’s 2024 legislative session.
Berger also said independent legislation was introduced earlier this week to authorize commercial casinos. Berger later withdrew the bill after determining there was insufficient support in the House.
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Source: www.casino.org
