Ben P on Gambling
Si Ben Pangelinan i mas ya-hu na Senadot gi i Liheslatura. Gi entre
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Manreregister taotao siha para i registry.
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Gambling with the people’s trust
OVER the past several elections, the people of Guam have resoundingly
voiced their opposition against gambling and gaming initiatives that
have been proposed, that all promised monetary benefits for the
community in exchange for the negative social effects that gambling
brings upon our families. It was as recent as the November 2012
elections that the people defeated the latest gaming initiative, to
which myself and all my colleagues voiced our opposition to the gaming
initiative.
What we have seen over the past week is political mischief afoot
within the halls of the Legislature to which those senators that were
purportedly against gambling just a short seven months ago, have
revealed their true colors. The policy surrounding gambling on Guam has
been stuck in the gray area, with several exceptions to the law that
have allowed for certain types of gaming and gambling to occur. The
arguments that have arisen in the previous legislative session has been
to paint this policy as either black or white; either you are for or
against gambling altogether.
Bill 19 as amended, the heavily debated legislation that was
unanimously passed by the Legislature, has been the medium from which
public and legislative discussion has ensued regarding gaming and
gambling on Guam. The original intent of Bill 19 was to assess an
increased tax rate on limited gaming, but was muddled with the inclusion
of the controversial Bill 20, which would have legitimized almost 500
gaming machines that the Attorney General had already deemed illegal.
This would have effectively legalized a monopoly for the owners of those
specified gaming machines indefinitely.
It continues to be unfortunate that the governor authorized the
Department of Revenue and Taxation (RevTax) to issue licenses for these
gaming machines, even though the chief legal officer of the government
of Guam had explicitly stated that such machines are illegal. At least a
couple of attempts to remove references in the bill to the
controversial and challenged rules and regulations, which were the basis
used by RevTax to issue the licenses, were defeated. I introduced an
amendment to Bill 19 that would have revoked these illegitimate gaming
machine licenses once the Guam Memorial Hospital debt, as reported in
Bill 20 as Exhibit A, was paid. My amendment was further amended to
cease all gaming, limited gaming, and gambling on Guam once the GMH
debt, as reported in Bill 20 as Exhibit A, was paid. These amendments
all passed and Bill 19,inclusive of these amendments, passed
unanimously.
Unfortunately this black and white approach was too drab for these
colorful, pro-gambling senators; therefore they have gone on the attack
against me and others attempting to falsify the official legislative
record that my amendment and the passed Bill 19 did not include an
Exhibit A, which would therefore allow the current legal gaming, limited
gaming, and gambling industry on Guam to exist in perpetuity. Of
course, this was not the case, as my amendment was clearly and
specifically stated on the session floor to incorporate Exhibit A with
the GMH debt clearly outlined.
This was clearly understood by the majority of the senators who
supported the final amendment and the final Bill 19. The senators who
lost the battle to stop the amendment knew this and still voted for the
bill, only now to reveal their true intentions and motivations.
I have written to the acting Speaker that if the will of these
colorful, pro-gambling senators is too strong to include Exhibit A
before transmittal of Bill 19 to the governor, then it would be prudent
to return to session and, again, attach Exhibit A to the bill.
It is unfortunate that this gamble with the people’s trust and
sentiments against gaming and gambling has occurred within the halls of
the Legislature. Nonetheless, I will continue the work for the people
and it is my hope that the people hear the truth, know the truth, and
uphold the truth.
Si Yu’us Ma’åse’
Senator Vicente (ben) Cabrera Pangelinan
Chairman.
and Land.
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