Senate Judiciary B heard some chippy testimony from the public, including one person who attacked the integrity of the committee’s Chairman during a hearing on House-approved legislation giving St. Tammany residents the right to vote on whether they want a casino to be built on the water outside of Slidell.
Slidell resident Camille Thompson spoke against the bill. She said it’s not fair that people in the Parish outside of Slidell get to vote on this.
“What if somebody wanted to put a toilet in your back yard and they were going to vote on it in the next town over? How would you feel about that?” Thompson asked the committee.
The proposal would relocate a license currently held by DiamondJacks in Bossier City to St. Tammany Parish.
Another opponent, Lisa Clayton of Pearl River, went after Chairman Gary Smith, saying his wife’s lobbying on behalf of the gaming industry is suspect.
“Senator Smith I am very concerned with your wife’s connection with the casino people. I find that that is an ethical consideration and many of us are concerned about your voting on this and your impartiality,” said Clayton.
But Smith countered that his wife’s career is separate from his and they handle their business professionally.
“My wife was a lobbyist long before I met her. I’ve been voting on gaming issues for 20 years which well exceeds our time together and I have been a consistent vote for those last 20 years on that,” said Smith.
The legislation ultimately was approved and heads to Senate Finance where an identical bill by Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt has been stuck for weeks. Reportedly the bill is having trouble finding the votes needed to pass.
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