Pro-casino lawmakers withdraw resolution.
Featured News, Politics, State & National February 17, 2021
ATLANTA, Ga. – In a surprise move, casino supporters of House Resolution 30 withdraw their push for citizens to vote a ballot measure in Georgia.
Rep. Ron Stephens
Introduced by Rep. Ron Stephens (R – Savannah), House Resolution 30 would have paved the way for voters to green light “a limited number” of casino resorts around the state – three to be exact. The resolution originated from the House Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, and it came with bipartisan support.
Rep. Al Williams (D – Midway), a proponent of the legislation, pointed out that casinos can be a significant revenue source to programs like the HOPE Scholarship while adding jobs to an already pandemic-stricken economy.
“This could generate revenue of taxes between $3-5 million for Georgia,” said Williams. “This is the only major industry we’ll ever be able to recruit that is not asking for tax abatement. They’re not asking for us to give them land. They’re not asking for anything. They’re just bringing 800-1,200 permanent jobs with an average income of $42,000 a year plus benefits.”
Williams, who represents an area lobbying for one of the resorts, says that his constituents are eager for a project like this.
“I will not become a gambler, but I do listen to the people and 70% of the people in Georgia, with comparable numbers in Liberty County, a little higher in Liberty, have said give us the right to vote.”
An Atlanta-based developer, Richard Lackey, echoed Williams’s belief that the casinos would be a
Midway Casino
massive attraction for Georgia if done correctly. One of Lackey’s more notable projects was The Battery, a popular mixed-use area surrounding Cobb County’s Truist Park and a significant revenue source for the Atlanta Braves.
Before the resolution was withdrawn, his firm targeted Midway, Hartwell, and Columbus, Georgia, as potential locations. Each site was close to state lines and had easy access to interstates while still having enough land casino operators desire.
“They’re going to want a minimum of 100 acres with freeway exposure on an exit ramp,” said Lackey.
Despite the resolution having bipartisan support, it faced a steep uphill battle. Stephens and the Economic Development and Tourism Committee have seen proposals like this come and go over the past decade with nothing to show for it. In 2011, Stephens introduced legislation that targeted Lake Lanier. In 2015, MGM aimed their sights on a billion-dollar project in Atlanta.
With Georgia’s Faith and Freedom Coalition, Virginia Galloway says that Georgia will get more than it bargained for if lawmakers give the green light to casinos.
“Gambling always costs more than it brings in,” said Galloway.
Governor Brian Kemp has also expressed his concern for expanding Georgia’s gaming laws, saying that he’s “not a fan.” What’s more, with Kemp facing primary opposition in November of 2022, issues like this will probably not get much attention from his office.
FYN tried reaching Rep. Ron Stephen and Rep. Al Williams for comment as to why HR 30 was withdrawn, but neither of them got back to us.
Gov. Kemp, DCH Announce Approval of 1135 Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® Waiver
Announcements, Press Release, State & National April 2, 2020
Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp and the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) today announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Georgia’s section 1135 waiver request on the temporary checklist, granting the state a number of flexibilities for Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® providers and members to combat the COVID-19 public health emergency. To read the approval letter, click HERE.
“We want to thank CMS for granting this waiver to provide the resources and flexibility for our health care systems and heroic health care workers to fight COVID-19,” said Governor Kemp. “The safety of Georgians is my top priority, and this measure helps ensure access to health care for some of our state’s most vulnerable citizens during this unprecedented time.”
“The Department of Community Health is grateful to our federal partners for moving so quickly to provide regulatory relief and support to our health care systems,” said DCH Commissioner Frank Berry. “We also greatly appreciate the work of our providers in helping us to explore creative avenues to ensure the best care to our citizens.”
Included in the approval of template checklist flexibilities under the 1135 waiver are:
Temporary suspension of Medicaid fee-for-service prior authorization requirements for particular benefits
Extension of pre-existing prior authorizations
Suspension of Pre-Admission Screening and Annual Resident Review (PASRR) Level I and Level II assessments for 30 days
Extension of state fair hearing requests and appeal timelines
Authorization for Georgia Medicaid to provisionally, temporarily enroll out-of-state providers who are enrolled in another state’s Medicaid program or Medicare
Waiver of application fees, criminal background checks, site visits and in-state licensure requirements for providers not already enrolled in another state’s Medicaid program or Medicare
Authorization for Georgia Medicaid to temporarily cease re-validation of providers
Authorization for the provision of services in alternative settings
The approval of these temporary flexibilities is effective retroactively to March 1, 2020 and ends upon termination of the public health emergency, including any extensions, according to CMS.
Additional provisions requested in Georgia’s 1135 waiver are still pending CMS review and approval. Updates will be provided on those pending items as more information becomes available.