93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
A veteran Missouri lawmaker who’s in his 14th year in Jefferson City is frustrated by the Legislature’s failure to pass Sportsbook, which is sports wagering.
Powerful Senate Economic Development Committee Chairman Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, is looking for a solution to fully fund Missouri veterans homes and cemeteries, and to help education.
“I definitely want to see the money raised from this go to education and veterans homes and (veterans) cemeteries. We had to supplement our veterans homes and cemeteries up to $39-million for the next fiscal year,” Hoskins says.
Senator Hoskins, whose sprawling district includes Fayette and Marshall in our mid-Missouri listening area, tells 939 the Eagle that “greedy casinos are the reason the Sportsbook only bill didn’t pass.” Hoskins says three different compromise bills were presented to Missouri’s professional sports teams, players’ associations and casinos.
“The most recent and last compromise that we offered, all the professional sports teams we’re in agreement and they wanted to accept the deal. And one of the casinos wanted to accept the deal as well. Unfortunately, the casinos decided that they did not want to accept the deal,” says Hoskins.
Chairman Hoskins says the bill would have raised $40 to $50-million for Missouri state veterans homes and cemeteries, with another $110 to $120-million going to education.
Hoskins would like to see Governor Mike Parson (R) call a September special session on sports wagering, to coincide with the annual veto session. Senator Hoskins says Sportsbook “allows you to bet on the Chiefs, Cardinals, Royals, Mizzou and any other professional or college sports teams.”
The veto session is September 14 in Jefferson City.
