WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Newberry primary voters say "yes" to video poker ballot survey

Newberry primary voters say "yes" to video poker ballot survey

(Newberry) Feb. 25, 2003 - New rumblings from a loud debate of the past is being heard in quiet Newberry County. The words "video poker" weren't on red signs to be found around the county, but that's what a "Yes" vote would have supported.

A survey of whether the state should vote on video poker to "wipe out budget cuts," was on the Democratic primary ballot for Tuesday. Newberry leaders tell WIS the vote was 677 yes and 517 no.

On one level, it's the same video poker debate as before, but there is a different issue. The idea that new life for video poker would end budget problems. USC economist Don Schunk says that's simply wrong, "If we brought back video poker it would do very little to get us out of budget crisis."

According to the Department of Revenue, video poker brought in $60 million a year in license fees. No one knows exactly how much in income tax. Separate studies showed revenues at $500 million to $600 million, which could mean $64 million in income taxes. If taxed at 10%, a level state sources called the current max, then it would raise $120 million at most each year.

That's far short of ending the state's budget shortfall, which is $600 million or more.

County party chairman Clarence Shealy hoped the issue would get attention, "It's hard to get them to to the polls and vote." Shealy says he has no opinion either way about video poker, but thought of the idea after seeing stories about the signs that went up in January.

The vote was part of the Democratic ballot for state senate in the county and was non-binding.

By Lisa Goddard
Updated 9:08pm by BrettWitt