More, More, More: SD Needs Gambling
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Monday, 6.15.15 ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net views VIEWS PAGE: [email protected] PAGE 4 PRESS&DAKOTAN The Press Dakotan THE DAKOTAS’ OLDEST NEWSPAPER | FOUndED 1861 Yankton Media, Inc., 319 Walnut St., Yankton, SD 57078 CONTACT US OPINION OTHER VIEWS PHONE: (605) 665-7811 (800) 743-2968 Minimum Wage NEWS FAX: (605) 665-1721 ADVERTISING FAX: (605) 665-0288 And Real Progress WEBSITE: MCCOOK GAZETTE (June 1): Nebraska’s minimum wage is go- www.yankton.net ing to $9, far below the $15 some activists are demanding, so it was ––––– interesting to see a study published by the National Low-Income SUBSCRIPTIONS/ Housing Coalition about the cost of living. CIRCULATION According to the study, the average Nebraskan would have to Extension 104 work 54 hours at a minimum wage to afford a one-bedroom apart- CLASSIFIED ADS ment. Extension 108 Of course, that average includes Lincoln and Omaha, where rents Capitol Notebook [email protected] are higher, and sets the amount the average minimum-wage worker NEWS DEPT. would spend on housing at 30 percent of income — probably far Extension 114 less than most minimum-wage workers spend when they get out of [email protected] their parents’ homes. More, More, More: SPORTS DEPT. On the other hand, minimum-wage jobs that allow workers to Extension 106 put in 54 hours are few and far between because of the benefits and [email protected] overtime pay required. ADVERTISING DEPT. Nebraska minimum-wage workers have it great compared to Extension 122 New Yorkers, who would have to put in 98 hours, the District of SD Needs Gambling [email protected] Columbia, Maryland and New Jersey, around 100 hours or more, BUSINESS OFFICE or California, 92 hours — or even worse, Hawaii, where one would BY BOB MERCER For every dollar lost in the privately owned Extension 119 have to work 125 hours for a one-bedroom apartment. State Capitol Bureau terminals, state government takes half of that [email protected] As we predicted, higher minimum wages push employers to install dollar. NEW MEDIA: more automation, such as a fast-food restaurant that lets customers PIERRE — Our state government wants The businesses get the other half of the dol- Extension 136 order through kiosks instead of through a counter attendant. more people to gamble more. lar — and pay the lottery one more cent from [email protected] But is the answer to housing affordability higher minimum wages, And when people spend more on state-spon- that dollar, for the administration of the video COMPOSING DEPT. or are lower housing costs and lower standards of living required? sored gambling, our state government lottery system. Extension 129 Minimum wage workers probably will never be able to afford to can spend more, without taxing more For many years the video lottery es- [email protected] buy one, but according to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2014, the aver- the people who aren’t gamblers. tablishments and the machine owners age new single-family home sold for $345,800, costing $97.09 for each This is free will at its finest and its — and increasingly, the South Dakota of its 2,506 square feet. worst. Lottery itself — have wanted more op- * * * More and more people are finding ways to lower their cost of liv- I’ve known gambling addicts. For portunities to take in more money from the gamblers. MANAGERS ing. some their curse was to like much too Many are finding ways to reduce their cost of living, such as the much gambling on video lottery. They want the bet limit raised from Gary L. Wood “tiny house” proponents living in 400 square feet or less, or adopting the $2 that’s been in place since video Publisher They didn’t look like addicts. European “net zero” standards calling for 500 square feet per person, One was a state judge. I watched lottery began in October 1989. Michele Schievelbein although initial energy-saving costs are far from economical. They want the maximum number him on an occasional Saturday morn- of terminals increased from the 10 per Advertising Director Of course, many resort to other methods — finding a roommate, ing. While others nursed coffee, he moving back in with parents or other relatives — and does everyone Bob establishment that’s been in place too Tonya Schild pushed money into a machine. since 1989. need a $100 cell phone plan and a big-screen TV? Several state legislators I knew Business Manager Yes, it’s hard to live on minimum wage, but it was never designed MERCER The Legislature repeatedly rejected couldn’t seem to stay away from the those changes. In the coming 2016 Tera Schmidt to provide that level of income, and raising it can only result in more machines. Classified Manager kiosks and robots on the job. session of the Legislature, the South One gave me a ride in his car one day. He Dakota Lottery and their business partners will A better solution is upgrading personal skills, or even starting reached across to the glove box. Out came a Kelly Hertz one’s own business to bring in that living wage. pursue those types of changes again. Editor roll of greenbacks, held together by a rubber The two sides of the partnership also will ask band. lawmakers for permission to offer a new version James D. Cimburek “My winnings,” he said. of gambling machines known as progressives. Sports Editor Then he added, his voice changing from Progressives already are common in true Beth Rye ABOUT THIS PAGE pride to the voice with which we keep secrets casinos. They offer the additional feature of a Digital Media Director about ourselves from our loved ones, “Don’t large jackpot. The jackpot comes from a slice The View page provides a forum for open discussion of issues and tell (her).” of each bet. The jackpot amount is prominently Kathy Larson interests affecting our readers. Initialed editorials represent the opinion For their family’s sake, I’m leaving her name displayed to attract players. Composing Manager of the writer, but not necessarily that of the PRESS & DAKOTAN. out. Who knows whether this time the Legislature Sarah Lynde Bylined columns represent the view of the author. We welcome letters on But I knew that she already knew. will say yes to the governor. Circulation District Manager current topics. Questions regarding the Views page should be directed to Eventually they always do. Often, too late. We’ll also see rules changed soon for Pow- Kelly Hertz at [email protected]/. Anyone who pays attention to the numbers erball, the big daddy of jackpot lotto games in behind video lottery would tell you the same South Dakota. thing: His wad wasn’t winnings. The winning matrix will be adjusted so If he had been truly winning, the wad would jackpots grow bigger faster. Fewer jackpots will * * * have been much, much fatter. be won. DAILY STAFF IN HISTORY Even if he had been only breaking even, the But people, being people, will gamble more to Reilly Biel wad would have been about 40 percent thicker. By The Associated Press Five years ago: In his first Oval Of- win the bigger money. Cassandra Brockmoller Today is Monday, June 15, the 166th fice address, President Barack Obama South Dakota’s video lottery businesses are Such is our state’s official policy. Brandi Bue day of 2015. There are 199 days left in the promised that “we will make BP pay for highly effective at capturing money of people Let the suckers pay. Rob Buckingham year. the damage their company has caused,” who like that kind of gambling. Caryn Chappelear Today’s Highlight in History: On describing the massive oil spill in the Gulf Randy Dockendorf June 15, 1215, England’s King John put of Mexico as a “siege” on the shores of Jeannine Economy his seal to Magna Carta (“the Great Char- America. Mexican President Felipe Cal- Rachel Frederick ter”) at Runnymede. deron appealed to his fellow citizens to Jeremy Hoeck On this date: In 1775, the Second support the fight against organized crime Nicole Myers Continental Congress voted unanimously just hours after troops killed 15 suspected Robert Nielsen to appoint George Washington head of gang members. the Continental Army. One year ago: Israeli Prime Minister Why America Hates The Diana Smallwood In 1836, Arkansas became the 25th Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Ha- David Stephenson state. mas militant group of kidnapping three Cathy Sudbeck In 1849, James Polk, the 11th presi- Israeli teenagers who had disappeared JoAnn Wiebelhaus dent of the United States, died in Nash- on June 12 (the teens’ bodies were found Brenda Willcuts ville, Tennessee. June 30). Death claimed “American Top In 1864, Secretary of War Edwin M. 40” host Casey Kasem, 82; “Flowers for BY MICHELLEGOP-Obamatrade MALKIN who rightfully made a stink Deal when Nancy Pelosi Alissa Woockman Stanton signed an order establishing a Algernon” author Daniel Keyes, 86; and © Creators.com declared that “we have to pass the [Obamac- military burial ground which became Ar- French actor Jacques Bergerac, 87. Golfer are] bill so that you can find out what is in it,” * * * lington National Cemetery in Virginia. Martin Kaymer of Germany won the U.S. In 1904, more than 1,000 people died Open. The San Antonio Spurs won their Constitutional conservatives don’t like it. now have no transparency legs to stand on. Published Daily when fire erupted aboard the steamboat fifth NBA championship, beating the Mi- Trade unions abhor it. Obama critics hate it. The Obama administration, House GOP lead- Monday-Saturday General Slocum in New York’s East River.