Published
What is
Chamber hiding?
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Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce members are
probably wondering why an organization with such a rich history of commercial
and civic stewardship has become involved in the promotion of gambling in
Even more curious is what the Chamber's board is
hiding, and why. The "reasons" for its position favoring gambling
have yet to be revealed in a credible manner. Is it a trade-off to protect
business incentives? Is it some other back-room accommodation of its interests
or those of others? There has been no comprehensible public explanation, and
the directors aren't talking.
Chamber President Lou Burgher sent an urgent e-mail
message to most board members Friday, attempting to prevent them from speaking
to this newspaper. In it, he said outgoing Chamber Chairman Dick Davidson,
Chairman of the Union Pacific Railroad, "has taken the stand that it is a
Chamber issue." That, after some 50 directors sat mostly mute during a
barely audible voice vote that rubber-stamped the resolution - which, let it be
noted, was previously uncirculated.
Why would the Chamber board duck?
It paid Creighton Professor Ernie Goss and gave him
a few weeks to deliver what the Chamber leadership refers to as an
"economic study" of gambling. Chamber leaders continue to refer to
the parking-lot license tag portion of Goss' more comprehensive survey as if it
settled the issue. We wonder: Why is no reference ever made to the easily
obtained (and quite modest)
A couple of brave board members have said they
supported the position so that the Chamber would have "a seat at the
table." Based on its support for leveraging gambling dollars for statewide
economic development, we believe the table referred to by the Chamber is not a
table at all - it is a trough.
Others wanting a seat include Omaha Mayor Mike
Fahey, some
The amount of gambling dollars that might be
available for the Chamber's incentive protections or other "economic
development" is embarrassingly small compared to the economic harm the
metropolitan area and the rest of Nebraska is all but certain to endure.
Why isn't the Chamber talking about Goss'
conclusions about the detrimental impact to the statewide economy of
The resolution says revenue from gambling
("gaming" to those who want to gloss over the harsh realities - now
including, apparently, the Chamber) is unreliable and should not be used for tax relief or even general fund revenue.
Contrast that with the desire on the part of the county, and some state
senators, to get to the trough.
Why isn't the Chamber willing to define what it
means by "limited" gambling and acknowledge the effect of its
pro-gambling position on permitting Indian casinos (and, yes, the dreaded slot
machines) throughout
Why shouldn't Chamber directors be allowed to state
clearly why they believe folks will fly to
Why won't the Chamber board tell this community how
it calculated the impact of a potential
The Chamber started this strange journey with a
survey to which a little more than 10 percent of its 3,600 members responded.
We suspect most members had the good sense to not voice an opinion in the
absence of meaningful facts.
Before pro-gambling forces open the next champagne
bottle, we urge the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce's board of directors to
return to their more customary forthrightness and tell the people why (or even
if) they really support gambling.
