Hunter
01/28/27
Iowa’s House Ways and Means Committee advanced a bill Monday that would put a moratorium on new casino licenses for five years, killing plans for a new casino development in Cedar Rapids.
The vote went 17-8 and is approved to move out of committee.
KWWL TV reports Representative Sami Scheetz of Cedar Rapids spoke on his opposition against the moratorium, saying lawmakers shouldn’t be in the business of picking winners and losers and urged them to let the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission make the decision on granting new licenses.
Representative Bobby Kaufmann, chair of the Ways and Means Committee called the bill a decision of severe magnitude for everything affected. Having created the Racing and Gaming Commission, Kaufmann believes it’s in the committee’s purview to pursue the bill.
The Racing and Gaming Commission is due to vote on the Cedar Crossings development license February 6th.