Wednesday, August 22, 2001
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Wednesday, August 22, 2001 |
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Legislature may take aim at video poker By DAVE
HAMRICK
In addition to redrawing U.S. Congress district lines for Georgia in this week's special session, the state Legislature also will consider everything from tighter restrictions to an all-out ban on video poker machines. State Sen. Greg Hecht, who represents part of Fayette, says he favors the latter. "I voted for a ban three times this past session," he said, "and that's where I would like to see it go." Gov. Roy Barnes has urged the Legislature to consider the issue during the session, though its main purpose is redistricting. The state of Florida recently enacted a ban on the machines, resulting in a flood of machines coming into Georgia, according to law enforcement agencies. The rap on the machines is that they are used for gambling because they pay off in prizes, though law forbids that those prizes include hard currency. Asked to reconcile a ban on the gambling machines with the state's sponsorship of a lottery, Hecht said the difference is the goal. "You have one situation that serves the educational needs of Georgia students and families, and in the other, several allegations have been made that these machines are part of a vast underground effort that's not good for our county or our state," he said. "Everybody has to make up their own mind, but I've made that distinction in my mind," he added.
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