Subject: Casinos or colleges?
From: "Alan Franklin, ProgressNow Colorado Education" <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:54:19 -0500 (CDT)

ProgressNow Colorado Education

Dear Friend,

Have times been tough for your family in the recent economic downturn?

I know a lot of people who have suffered, and still are suffering as
the
economy only slowly recovers. But what if I told you that the casino
industry
in Colorado thinks it should get a tax cut--just because times are
tough?

You'd ask what makes them so special, wouldn't you?

It's hard to believe, but this is exactly what almost happened.
A few weeks ago, the casino industry convinced the Colorado Limited
Gaming Control Commission to lower taxes on casino profits--right
after voters approved Amendment 50 in 2008, which allowed casinos to
take much bigger bets and introduce new casino games to raise
additional revenue for our state's underfunded community
colleges. Many organizations including ProgressNow Colorado supported
Amendment 50; not because we wanted more gambling, but because our
colleges desperately need the help!

Fortunately, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper didn't stand
for it. Last week, Hickenlooper asked for the resignation of the
entire
gaming commission after they refused to reconsider their terrible
decision to
cut taxes on the casino industry at the expense of community colleges.
(Denver Post, 7/7/2011) Now, Gov.
Hickenlooper is being attacked by Republicans like House Speaker
Frank
McNulty for refusing to allow casinos to receive a tax cut while our
schools
suffer.

Click here: tell Gov. Hickenlooper that you support our
schools over casinos just like he does!

http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=rtFwHoB4KEMm2P3e3Jx9OA..

In his statement announcing the replacement of all members of the
gaming commission, Gov. Hickenlooper summed up the issue brilliantly:
"Gaming should be subject to the same risks and rewards of
operating and expanding as other industries that don't have the same
ability to change their tax rate based on market conditions. Colorado
casinos pay among the lowest tax rates in America, and to lower them
even further in these times of unmet needs in local communities makes
it appear they are diverting their fair and rightful obligation onto
their neighbors in the rest of the state."

This was a brave show of support for our community colleges, and just
plain sensible fiscal policy.  Gov. Hickenlooper needs to know
that progressives are behind him as he fights back against bad ideas
like this one. It's also not over: the new commission must still
vote to undo the previous commission's vote to cut casino taxes.
Click here to show your support for our community colleges over
casinos, and tell Gov. Hickenlooper that you'll have his back
every time he does the right thing.

http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=JAJJq6gCzAEsvYSl2OuiAQ..

Thanks,

Alan Franklin

To unsubscribe from all future email, paste the following URL into your browser:
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/CO?i=AYuNDbvp4Y1tjDHQHxv_vDURBngnsUfc&cid=1181