LANSING (WKZO AM/FM) — Oshtemo House Representative Brandt Iden says he worked for two years to get online gambling bills passed in the last session, building coalitions, educating lawmakers and refining the legislation until it finally passed in Lame Duck.
He called it a model package for the rest of the nation to follow.
Iden says he was surprised when Governor Snyder vetoed the whole package, saying it might hurt lottery income and needed more study.
Iden says he would have had the votes to override but the session had already ended.
He tells MIRS news that he is starting all over, rebuilding consensus with new members, saying he has had some positive preliminary talks with Governor Whitmer’s policy staff.
The bills would create regulation and a system for taxation for fantasy sports leagues, casino style gambling, and horse race gambling online, and could lead to sports betting too.
(copy written by John McNeill)
