Legislators from both parties are considering legislation to make casino owners made public information. Which makes sense.
HUNHOFF:
“Legislators often can’t get the information they need to make good policy decisions,” said Rep.-elect Bernie Hunhoff, a Yankton Democrat who is returning to the Legislature in January after a 10-year hiatus. “It’s been that way in South Dakota for a long time.”
“I do think you lose some of your privacy when you enter into a relationship with government,” Hunhoff said.
KNUDSON
Senate Majority Leader Dave Knudson, who is also a business lawyer, said some said incorporated businesses might have some information, but, “The amount of information that is required to form a limited liability company is virtually nothing.”
Knudson said it’s a “sad commentary” that some basic records about video lottery are confidential. He predicted the Legislature would take up the broader issue of government transparency, which could include video lottery records.
“I’m hopeful there will be significant progress that will be made on the topic in general,” Knudson said.
HEIDEPRIEM
“I do not understand why we can’t know who owns the video lottery businesses in South Dakota and to what extent, and where they’re located,” Heidepriem said.
I applaud their intentions, but have a feeling they are gonna have an uphill battle. First off many legislators benefit from Video Lottery, either as casino owners or vendors who supply casinos and secondly Rounds won’t sign a bill. Why? When you have a majority of these casino big wheels contributing the max to his campaigns (check the list of names and compare to the campaign financials) do you think he would sign something that would put them in jeopardy? Hell no. Like most things with Rounds, follow the money.