Sen. Greg Tarver: Casinos 'Have A Right To Pay Taxes'

As the State Senate begins debate on expanding the laws governing casinos across the state, Senator Gerg Tarver of Shreveport says that area riverboats "take up space" and "have a right to pay taxes."

101.7 / 710 KEEL's Robert J Wright and Erin McCarty dissect Tarver's remarks and wonder if his opinion's on taxation and the gaming industry extend to other businesses in the state.

Tarver, who sits on Senate Judiciary B Committee, is part of the discussion to allow the state's riverboats to build land-based casinos within 1,200 feet of their boat locations.

A description of Senate Bill 316 from theadvocate.com:

Senate Bill 316 would allow each of the 15 boats to move 1,200 feet onto land from their designated berth site and replace the longtime cap of 30,000 square feet of gambling space with a limit of 2,365 gambling positions.
State Sen. Ronnie Johns, R-Lake Charles, said the measure would generate more investment by the floating casinos and bring more tax revenue into the state. A 13-member task force that he co-chaired – along with Ronnie Jones, the chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board – recommended the change.