Nebraska court rejects casino measure
9/15/2006, 10:39 a.m. ET
The Associated Press
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The state's highest court said Friday that a plan to legalize casino gambling in Nebraska cannot appear on the November ballot because it was too similar to measures rejected in 2004.
The ruling, which overturned a lower court decision, said the casino petition violated the state constitution's limit on submitting similar ballot proposals more than once in three years.
Nebraska voters turned down two casino plans in November 2004, one touted by Las Vegas casino interests and the other by the Legislature.
The newest proposal would allow one casino in each of the state's three congressional districts, earmarking funds for grade-school education, horse racing and treatment of compulsive gamblers.
A lawyer for the leader of the proposal's sponsor, the Committee for Better Schools and More Jobs in Nebraska, said he was disappointed by the high court's "broad interpretation" of the three-year rule.
Alan Pederson said he could not yet comment on the committee's next step. |