Ford's video poker idea might be a winner
You would think those guys in Columbia don't like money.
Every year, Sen. Robert Ford tells the General Assembly where they could find another $750 million to shovel into the budget. And every year, they ignore him — then go out and find new and creative ways to give away some more of the state's hard-earned revenue.
"All they want to do is cut, cut, cut," Ford says. "We can't cut any more."
See, Ford has an idea to cure the no-money blues. For a long time, he's campaigned to bring back video poker, tax it at 25 percent and start raking in the cash.
"You could do wonders with that kind of money," Ford says. "Give state employees a 10 percent pay raise for four years in a row, cut the property tax rate some more. It's a voluntary tax, and people will pay it."
Ford would even like to bring dock-side gambling to North Charleston, like they have in Mississippi and Louisiana.
You know, usually people say the problem with South Carolina is that it's too much like Mississippi and Louisiana.
Don't talk to Ford about the evils of gambling. He has an answer for that: Poor people can't afford to play video poker, so they won't. He also contends that video poker is a game of skill (you can debate among yourselves on that).
But one thing's for sure: It is hard to muster moral outrage for legalized gambling when the state already is running a numbers game.
Don't want floating casinos? Too bad, that boat already has sailed — from Little River, every night for nearly 10 years now.
The Legislature has known about Ford's pot of gold for years. It's not like they can ignore it — the senator usually introduces video poker bills every session.
Nobody ever accused Robert Ford of being subtle.
Maybe this year will be different.
After state officials got nothing but an IOU for a lump of coal in their stocking this year, they might come around in January. Maybe they'll say, Senator Ford with your idea-so-bright, won't you fill our coffers tonight?
Nah. That would be too easy. Make no mistake: The legislators like easy. But they don't like running afoul of the morals police.
Even Ford doesn't think the current economic horrors are enough to do it. He's been asking around. Although he claims support from thousands of folks around the state, he sounds like a weather man when he talks about the reception most of his colleagues give him: cold.
That doesn't mean he's giving up. He'll still try, but this year he's going to offer them another option: a referendum.
The referendum is the lifeblood of the timid, or spineless, politician. It allows elected officials to have it both ways — they can take credit or claim plausible deniability. And no one can ever be criticized for allowing folks to vote on an issue.
If that doesn't work, and Ford fears it won't, he says that he and a group of like-minded folks are going to find someone to run for governor in 2010 on this single issue. He says it's a real winner of an idea.
"Poker would solve all of South Carolina's problems in a year," he says.
That sounds crazy: a guy winning the governor's race by campaigning primarily on a single issue? Running on gambling? When's the last time that happened?
Maybe we should ask Gov. Jim "Education Lottery" Hodges.
Reach Brian Hicks at 937-5561 or bhicks@postandcourier.com.
E-mail this story 
Printer-friendly version
Notice about comments:
The Post and Courier is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Charleston.net does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "suggest removal" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our Web site.
Full terms and conditions can be read here.
Comments
This article has 15 comment(s)
102 comments
Suspect expected to plead guilty 30 comments
Brothers charged in boy's shooting 97 comments
Cost for Sanford trips $70,000 67 comments
Recovery operation for missing swimmer suspended 2 comments
Attendance up at SC Confederate, military museum 28 comments
Former Wando High football standout dies during workout 15 comments
Digital library launched 14 comments
Posted by sixcar on December 26, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"creative ways to give away some more of the state's hard-earned revenue."
----the state's "hard earned revenue?" This is a joke right? Please tell me this is a joke.
"Give state employees a 10 percent pay raise for four years in a row"
----only in government. It's easy to talk trash like this when it's other poeples money! Where in the private sector, do people ever get a 10% pay raise 4 years in a row?
"cut the property tax rate some more"
----yeah, just like they did when the state lottery was started.
"Poor people can't afford to play video poker, so they won't."
-----another clueless comment from another clueless career politician.
Posted by soulfullatina on December 26, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To reinstate video poker as a source of revenue will be a slap in the face of all of the religious conservatives who pressured our legislature to legislate personal behaviors.
We can't have that can we?
We must hold on to our religious (Christian) ideals even if it's to the detriment of our ENTIRE population.
Posted by karmann on December 26, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I find it interesting that with the "education lottery" that the State is having problems with finances. As for "poor people" not being able to afford to play, Mr. Ford forgets where most of the video poker machines were located. I guess he also forgets how many children were left in cars while the parents went in to play for several hours at a time. I guess the State needs to decide if the social problems this creats is worth it.
Posted by Weeeee on December 26, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeahhhh. There's a connection between gambling and religion? I call bs.
Posted by NativeSon on December 26, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, turn from their self absorbed ways and seek My face, then I will hear from Heaven, will forgive their sins and heal their land!
Posted by lou9 on December 26, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What do you mean, poor people can't afford to play video poker? They can afford to buy lottery tickets, beer and cigarettes, so they have plenty of disposable income already. And when the Messiah Obama redistributes the wealth in this country and gives them whatever they want then they'll have even more money to waste on things other than taking care of their families.
Sixcar - well said. I for one haven't had any raise in the past 7 years. Then again, maybe Obama will make my employer give me a raise so I can turn around and give it to the government - NOT!
Posted by Hwebster on December 26, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the return of video poker has merit. If I remember correctly, a State permit per machine was about $5K a year. They were banned as the upstate legislaters forced the removal for their vote for "The Education Lottery".
If some are concerned with the poor and their personal spending habits, then a ban on alcohol and smokes is surely in order. Heck, lets take all their money away from them and take care of them in lieu.
Missisippi has done quite well with the casinos in Tunica. Last I heard, Christianity is still alive and well there.
Posted by SCHoser on December 26, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If people want to play poker, they should be able to. Personal responsibility is everything. These people who have "social problems" have them already-poker does not create problems, it is just another avenue as with anything else in this world. Almost everything known to man is abused by someone somewhere, so that is a lame excuse. If people would mind their own business and let others do the same, it would be a much better place.
Posted by soulfullatina on December 26, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My point exactly! There is NO connection between gambling and religion.
However there is a very vocal and not-so-vocal group of politicos who pressured our legislature to turn away from the seedier side of gambling in lieu of a more palatable version, the lottery.
Whenever there is a call to either establish or re-establish other types of revenue that doesn't coincide with the South Carolina Old Guard version of civility and religion (dog tracks, casinos, poker machines and floating gambling boats) there is this backlash of the moral majority who claim that such allowances will expedite the disintegration of South Carolina’s moral fiber.
Apparently Mississippi doesn’t have that problem. LOLOL
The lottery was 'sold' on the fact that it will help our poor poor high schoolers afford college.
Like putting sugar on cough syrup.
Personally, as long as your personal behaviors doesn’t infringe upon the rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of others, the government should stop mandating such acts and just tax the hell out of it.
If someone making $12/hr wants to waste their money on a lotto ticket or poker machine then let them do it. If they’re that stupid let’s get some tax revenue out of it.
But noooo, not here, not in South Carolina, we must mandate personal behaviors then complain we’re in a deficit.
Thank God there’s so many other wonderful things to love about this State.
Posted by onedeep on December 26, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Poker is less than a gamble than the lottery, primarily because poker is not a game of chance, but one of skill. I still don't understand how the one that is mindlessly throwing your money into the trash is legal here in SC, and the one that can actually be used to make money legitimately (on all sides) is forbidden.
God bless the moral police, for they no not what they do.
Posted by postman01 on December 26, 2008 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
While he's wrong to insist that "we can't cut anymore", this long term political sideshow is correct to point out that we are behaving like IMBECILES about gambling and need to alter our behavior.
Posted by Weeeee on December 26, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not only should gambling be legalized here, automobile inspections should be brought back. Even naysayers have to admit that there's something wrong when you're driving down the road and you see a car without a driver's side door! I mean. What can be MORE unsafe about a car on the road? You'd think common sense would dictate bringing something like that back would work.
Posted by FedUpInChas on December 26, 2008 at 4:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Run out of options?? I'm so tired of hearing that statement. Please tell me where to go to see what all has been spent on pork spending in this state. Do we not have a right as the people who elected these morons to demand change?
Posted by SCPDBLUE on December 27, 2008 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Brother Ford I am not one of your fans or a video poker person/gambler,But sir you are right on this one. Keep up the fight.
Posted by stephaniem on December 30, 2008 at 1:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
good arguments on this board
I wish the moral police would remember that the first amendment protected people from freedome from religion
they sell alcohol in this state.
alcohol causes DUI, fights and is linked to domestic violence
they fought for years to ban tattooing and now gambling. I understand putting hour restrictions on bars and gambling or a limit using your drivers liscense etc but not banning it
pot should be legalized as well (i drink...don't smoke) as it takes time away from police handling violent cases