Perhaps Soon, Dear Berry

The bill to cut the lifeline to greyhound racing (racinos) from casinos in Iowa is again back on the table.  And again, I wonder at “…Sen. Jack Hatch, D-Des Moines, said he won't support the bill unless it requires Iowa's two racetrack-casinos to make a combined yearly $10 million payment in license fees indefinitely.”

I marvel at that term.  As written now, the bill calls for the expiration of payments in seven years.  Seven years seems reasonable.  In today’s economy, indefinitely seems rather absurd.  Not one of us is here “indefinitely”.  The expectation of indefinite is very unreasonable.

“The bill also would create a "greyhound owners and kennels retirement fund" under the control of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.”

This seems a rather nice cushion for those owners and kennels to land on in their twilight years.  $70 million.  That is fair.

No one says it better than Jim Carney, lobbyist for Harrah’s who stated “only seven states continue to race dogs. "Dog racing is simply dead," he said. "I mean, that's a fact."”

That it is.  Much like those who lost their lives racing.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110204/NEWS10/102040349/Bill-would-end-dog-racing-assist-owners-kennels

Perhaps soon, Berry.  Let’s hope it happens.  For you and all the others.