The Ledger, Lakeland, Fla., on Gov. Charlie Crist's new gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe: Gov. Crist wants a special session to get the Legislature to ratify a new gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe. Under the terms of the proposed compact, the state would get a nice cut of the tribe's action; an estimated $6.8 billion over the next 20 years.

But Senate President Jeff Atwater is reluctant to rush into a special session. He asks, in effect, "what's the hurry?"

The answer to that question may lie in a recent New York Times article suggesting that states may be reaching a "saturation point" in their attempts to collect gambling revenues in lieu of taxes.

"Casinos and lotteries in most states are reporting a downturn in revenue for the first time, resulting in a drop in the money collected by state and local governments "the Times reported.

The Times quoted Lucy Dadayan, senior analyst with the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government thusly: "The data shows that states take a real chance depending on gambling because this revenue is not likely to keep pace with growing budgetary needs. In the absence of new types of gambling, it can become a zero-sum gain as states compete for the same pot."

Hence Gov. Crist's rush. Florida may already be nearing a saturation point. Recently, the Florida Lottery introduced vending machines in an attempt to keep milking a gambling cow that may already be running dry. ...

Gambling is ultimately a sucker's bet. The problem is, there may not be enough suckers to go around.

Spartanburg (S.C.) Herald Journal, on health care reform:

Health care reform is likely to be expensive, both for the federal government and the states, but not so much for Nevada, thanks to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The leader of the Democrats in the Senate has gotten a special rule inserted into the primary health care reform bill that would provide extra money to his state to offset the additional costs of the measure. ...

As Senate majority leader, Reid should be focused on creating the best health care reform measure for the entire nation, one that works in every state, not just Nevada and a few others.

But that's not his motivation. He faces a tough re-election fight and will do whatever is necessary to win.

... Doing the right thing for the country won't win him another term. Getting more money for Nevada will.

The situation also should remind Americans we don't have the money to afford massive expansions in government entitlements. States don't have the money to pay for this expanded coverage. The federal government will pay for it by borrowing more, counting on you to someday pay it back with interest.

That national debt is growing faster than a malignant tumor on the nation's economy and social welfare. It is likely to be a bigger problem than rising health care costs, affecting this nation's prosperity and independence for decades.

(Oct. 1, 2009)