For the second time, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has nixed proposed ballot language for a proposed constitutional amendment that would authorize the creation of four casinos at specific locations in Benton, Boone, Miller and Pulaski counties to raise more money for highways.
In a decision issued late Tuesday afternoon, the Republican attorney general declined to certify a popular name and ballot title for a proposed constitutional amendment for the Arkansas Wins in 2018 Inc. ballot committee.
While existing state law doesn't allow for stand-alone casinos, it permits electronic games of skill that now exist at Oaklawn Racing and Gaming in Hot Springs and Southland Park Gaming and Racing in West Memphis.
Rutledge's certification of the ballot title and popular name is required to clear the way for the Arkansas Wins in 2018 Inc. committee to begin collecting 84,859 valid signatures of registered voters by July 6 to qualify the proposal for the Nov. 6 general election ballot. The popular name briefly describes the proposal, and a ballot title is a lengthier summary and both appear on the ballots.
The four casinos would be located on 247 acres in Siloam Springs in Benton County, about 62 acres in Omaha in Boone County, about 35 acres in Texarkana in Miller County, and about 200 acres at 14121 Lawson Road in unincorporated Pulaski County. Each property would be subject to an agreement to be purchased by Arkansas Gaming and Resorts LLC, according to the committee's proposal.
In a letter to attorney Randy Bynum, Rutledge wrote that "the voters are given no information in the ballot title as to who owns this LLC, who its members are and generally who would stand to benefit financially from the adoption of this constitutional amendment." She cited ambiguities in rejecting the proposed popular name and ballot title.
Rutledge already has rejected proposed ballot language four times for a proposed constitutional amendment advanced by the Driving Arkansas Forward ballot committee. Three of those were rejections of its proposed amendment to authorize the state government to issue four casino licenses, with one each in Jefferson and Pope counties, one for Oaklawn and one for Southland Park.
NW News on 05/09/2018