Libertarian Candidate Calls for Gambling Law Reform

And one vocal candidate for LaPorte City Council has had enough.  Libertarian candidate for LaPorte City Council, Mike Lisak, is calling for State Representatives Scott Pelath (D-Michigan City) and Tom Dermody (R-LaPorte) to co-sponsor legislation reversing the damaging House Bill 1510 which has made community gaming largely illegal.  Included in the new law are crowd-pleasing games such as sports pools, punch cards, 50/50 drawings and pull-tabs.

"I have called both of our representatives to discuss this, " Lisak noted.  "One important role of a City Councilor is to lobby those officials with authority to affect our community's growth and quality of living.  This legislation got it wrong and we need to undo its damage as soon as possible."

With at least two local bars shuttering their doors this week, the bill appears to attack taverns most.  However, also at stake are the long-time efforts of civic organizations that include light gaming as fundraising events or entertainment.

"My Rotary Club in Indianapolis would have a weekly 50/50 drawing," commented new LaPorte resident Dan Drexler.  "We would have a weekly winner at our breakfast meeting where he might take home $25 and the other $25 went into our programs and community work.  I dare any legislator who voted in favor of this bill to attend my Rotary Club and tell us how wrong we are for having a little bit of fun while giving back to the community."

Locally, Dermody supported the law and Pelath voted against it.  Dermody claims he supported the vote because he wanted to protect the special interests of local veterans' organizations, eventually exempted from the law.   Not exampted from the law are civic groups such as the Lions, Kiwanis and fraternal lodges.

"It's shameful pandering by Dermody," stressed Lisak.  "He's claiming to have voted to protect a group, but it's at the expense of other hard-working business people.  What he doesn't realize is veterans own, work and belong to the businesses he's killing.   He has one year to undo his damage and remember who elected him."

"As a city councilor, you have to believe I'm going to be in constant contact with these guys," stressed Lisak.  "Someone has to hold their feet to the fire.  And I'm that person."