Now I know why Casinos will not be in Texas anytime soon

I like to play slot machines and video poker. I don't let it get away from me and I'm not homeless because of it. I do enjoy it as a fun outlet for stress. I do not however, enjoy having to drive fouir hours one way just to play.
Since a lot of states have started building casinos all around, I often wondered why Texas hasn't built any. I mean c'mon, we have bingo, lotto, megamillions, horse and dog tracks, and eight-liners in some places, what's the deal with not having casinos?
I now know it's because of Lousiana lobbyists and probably the Lousiana Gaming Commision. Ther're lining the pockets of our members of congress, to keep it out of Texas.
Every time I have been able to go to Lousiana for a day of fun, I can't help but notice the license plates in the parking lots of those casinos. I am not kidding, I bet 90 percent of the cars have Texas plates. And, whenever I ask anyone where they are from, it's usually Houston.
So, can you imagine what would happen to those great casinos if we opened some up here in Texas? They would fold in about a year.

Here is a recent example of members of Congress getting caught red-handed with their hands if the cookie jar.

Lawmakers Acted on Heels of Abramoff Gifts
Nov 17, 9:20 AM (ET)

By JOHN SOLOMON and SHARON THEIMER

(AP) U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton speaks to the Juneau and Alaska Chamber of Commerce, Monday,...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Nearly three dozen members of Congress, including leaders from both parties, pressed the government to block a Louisiana Indian tribe from opening a casino while the lawmakers collected large donations from rival tribes and their lobbyist, Jack Abramoff.

Many intervened with letters to Interior Secretary Gale Norton within days of receiving money from tribes represented by Abramoff or using the lobbyist's restaurant for fundraising, an Associated Press review of campaign records, IRS records and congressional correspondence found.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid sent a letter to Norton on March 5, 2002, also signed by Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev. The next day, the Coushattas issued a $5,000 check to Reid's tax-exempt political group, the Searchlight Leadership Fund. A second Abramoff tribe sent another $5,000 to Reid's group. Reid ultimately received more than $66,000 in Abramoff-related donations between 2001 and 2004.

In the midst of the congressional letter-writing campaign, the Bush administration rejected the Jena's casino on technical grounds. The tribe persisted, eventually winning Interior approval but the casino now is tied up in a court dispute.

Congressional ethics rules require lawmakers to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest in performing their official duties and accepting political money.

So, can you truthfully say our so-called "leaders" have our security and well-being in mind? Sorry, ain't happening.

Here is the source of this story.