AR Supreme Court Kicks Casino Gambling Measure from Ballot
By: KARK 4 News, Little Rock
Updated: October 4, 2012
Update (October 4):
The Arkansas Supreme Court has rejected a proposed ballot measure for casino gambling in a decision handed down this morning.
In their opinion, the justices stated that since the measure had already been approved for the November ballot, they had no choice but to render it moot.
The court petition submitted by the Nancy Todd Poker Palace Initiative had sought a review of after questions arose about the ballot title.
Todd issued the following statement after learning of the court's decision:
"Today's announcement is disappointing. More than 200,000 Arkansans signed our petition and thousands more understand this is about keeping our money in Arkansas and creating more than 6,000 good paying jobs in the state.
A track full of moneyed insiders fought me every inch of the way and while they may have "won" today, it's the people of Arkansas who have lost in the long run. Issue 3 would provide Arkansas with real benefits: secure jobs and funding for our schools, senior citizens, veterans, job training and the Children's Hospital. While today's decision means votes cast for Issue 3 will not count, I will continue talking about the importance of keeping our money in Arkansas and creating good paying jobs."
Original story (September 14):
The Secretary of State's Office has verified 95,687 signatures in favor of the Nancy Todd Poker Palace Initiative.
That is enough to get the measure on the ballot.
Casino gambling will appear on the ballot in November, but the Arkansas Supreme Court still has to weigh in on the measure.
Only 78,133 verified signatures were needed.
The ballot title language still needs to be cleared by the State Supreme Court for the votes to be counted on Nov. 6
The Arkansas Supreme Court has rejected a proposed ballot measure for casino gambling in a decision handed down this morning.
In their opinion, the justices stated that since the measure had already been approved for the November ballot, they had no choice but to render it moot.
The court petition submitted by the Nancy Todd Poker Palace Initiative had sought a review of after questions arose about the ballot title.
Todd issued the following statement after learning of the court's decision:
"Today's announcement is disappointing. More than 200,000 Arkansans signed our petition and thousands more understand this is about keeping our money in Arkansas and creating more than 6,000 good paying jobs in the state.
A track full of moneyed insiders fought me every inch of the way and while they may have "won" today, it's the people of Arkansas who have lost in the long run. Issue 3 would provide Arkansas with real benefits: secure jobs and funding for our schools, senior citizens, veterans, job training and the Children's Hospital. While today's decision means votes cast for Issue 3 will not count, I will continue talking about the importance of keeping our money in Arkansas and creating good paying jobs."
Original story (September 14):
The Secretary of State's Office has verified 95,687 signatures in favor of the Nancy Todd Poker Palace Initiative.
That is enough to get the measure on the ballot.
Casino gambling will appear on the ballot in November, but the Arkansas Supreme Court still has to weigh in on the measure.
Only 78,133 verified signatures were needed.
The ballot title language still needs to be cleared by the State Supreme Court for the votes to be counted on Nov. 6
