Legislator: 'The Time Is Right' For A Casino Ballot Question

Republican Assembly Whip Scott Rumana (District 40) said he is “confident” that there will be consensus from the party’s caucus regarding the matter of placing a question on the November ballot regarding building a North Jersey casino.

Hard Rock Entertainment unveiled a plan last week to construct a $1 billion casino at the Meadowlands as soon as next summer.

“Being a North Jersey guy, I’m certainly interested in exploring the possibility but overall I want to spend the time dealing with everybody in the caucus because people from different regions have different interests,” Rumana told PolitickerNJ.com. “There can be a lot of ways to help a lot of different people.”

Hard Rock International and Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment have said the casino could generate up to $400 million in state tax revenue and create up to 10,000 jobs.

“It’s all part of the global view. How do you improve the state’s position? The effects of having new casinos, hotels, restaurants and venues for shows and concerts create worlds of opportunity in the end,” Rumana said on PolitickerNJ. “When you have that improved revenue stream, it can help.”

Rumana said the revenue the casino generates could be used to help address pension funding and Transportation Trust Fund woes.

State legislators have backed the idea of building casinos in Bergen, Hudson, and Essex counties. State representatives from those counties have already introduced legislation earlier this month to allow casinos to be built in those three counties.

Voters would have to amend the state Constitution with a referendum to allow the casino to be built.