There are a handful of proposals in the Indiana Senate that would help raise money for Indiana. On Tuesday, hearings will be held on a proposal that would allow counties to raise the local income tax as a way of collecting more money and capping property taxes. Also being bandied about are ideas of increasing gambling availability to raise revenue.
Like the first time the tax plan was voiced, we need more details before we can weigh in with an opinion. When it comes to gambling, we feel as though Indiana has gone far enough; however, there’s one form of gambling that’s available in Indiana that clearly needs addressed. That’s the use of video poker machines that proliferate in most counties.
Currently, the use of video poker gambling is illegal in Indiana, but only one prosecutor that we're aware of — Tom Wilson of Steuben County — enforces the law. We are aware of one other prosecutor in the state who has established guidelines for the games, allowing their use up to a certain threshold.
As Sen. Robert Meeks, R-LaGrange, has pointed out for years, the use of the machines is widespread and the law is not enforced. But the bottom line is, without regulatory control, there are millions of dollars in potential tax revenue that is not collected. Meeks has favored legalizing the machines because they are already in place and the state could use the money.
“I’m looking for revenue,” Meeks said in an Associated Press story. “Under every rock.”
With state control, Meeks says, there would be regulation on payouts and who can play the games. As it is, Meeks said, children have been found playing the games.
We would like to see some consistency. The way it is, prosecutors have thumbed their collective noses at state law. A prime example is Steuben County. If one were to go looking for a video poker machine to play in the town of Orland, it would be difficult. However, drive about a half mile west, to Wall Lake in LaGrange County and you will be in luck. That’s because the law is enforced in Steuben and not in LaGrange.
What we have is prosecutors in Indiana who are supposed to enforce the law allowing a particular law to go unenforced. Some allow the law to be bent so as to keep some amount of control. That is no different than the way some drug laws are enforced in Indiana. In rural counties, such as ours, a person caught with a marijuana cigarette is going to get arrested for a Class A misdemeanor. In a larger, metropolitan area, police often look the other way or just confiscate the marijuana without making an arrest.
The difference with video poker is that it is widespread, virtually legal everywhere by the lack of enforcement. It smacks in the face of our legal system. And that’s what angers a person like Meeks, a retired Indiana State Police trooper. The way Meeks sees it, the law’s the law and it should be followed. The current lack of enforcement is a joke and something should be done.
Though we are not in favor of expanding gambling, we are with Sen. Meeks on this one. Either make video poker legal and collect the tax money or enforce the law. It’s pretty plain and simple.
