Cardrooms oppose sports betting initiative + Hungry children + Former assemblyman dies
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!
CARDROOMS CHALLENGE SPORTS BETTING INITIATIVE
Via Lara Korte...
Cardroom industry leaders are asking the California Supreme Court to intervene in a sports betting initiative that is backed by several California tribes.
The two petitioners, Hollywood Park and Cal-Pac Rancho Cordova, say the initiative is unconstitutional because it includes too many unrelated subjects, and are asking the court to take action before ballot printing in September.
Various interest groups, including the cardrooms and different tribes, have already submitted four ballot measures to the state with the hopes that California voters in 2022 will legalize sports betting.
The only initiative to qualify for the ballot thus far is known as the California Sports Wagering Regulation and Unlawful Gambling Enforcement Act, and is backed by the Pechanga, Barona, Yocha Dehe and Agua Caliente tribes.
The initiative would legalize in-person sports betting in California, but only on tribal land and at certain horse racetracks. It would also allow tribes to offer roulette and dice games, as well as authorize private lawsuits to enforce other gambling laws.
By including roulette and dice games and private litigation in the initiative, the petitioners say the tribes have violated the state constitution’s one subject rule, which limits ballot measures to one subject so as not to confuse and deceive the electors.
“The Initiative’s proponents seek to exploit the popular demand for legal sports wagering by hitching two unpopular wish-list measures to a sports-wagering Initiative,” the suit reads.
Petitioners are asking the court to either enjoin Secretary of State Shirley Weber from putting the initiative before voters, ask her to show a valid reason as to why the initiative shouldn’t be barred from the ballot, or, if the case cannot be decided before the September printing deadline, put a temporary stay on the measure.
CALIFORNIA LEADS THE NATION IN HUNGRY CHILDREN
Via David Lightman...
California tops the nation in households with children who sometimes or often lack enough food, a new study found.
An estimated 9.1 million people nationwide with children living at home have recently endured food insufficiency, and 1.3 million were in California, reported HelpAdvisor.com, which helps people with health care, retirement and finances.
The state figure accounted for 14% of child food scarcity in the nation.
The study defines food scarcity as “U.S. adults with children living in the home who are unable to provide a sufficient amount of food for the household.”
Nationally, those who are at a higher risk for food scarcity are homes that include people 65 and older, Blacks, Hispanics, those who are unmarried, unemployed, lack health insurance and have no bachelor’s degree.
People with government food aid, such as SNAP benefits, also are at higher risk.
HelpAdvisor.com obtained its results by analyzing data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Pulse Survey from September 29 to October 11.
FORMER ASSEMBLYMAN DIES
The California Legislative Black Caucus announced Tuesday that former Democratic Assemblyman Willard Murray Jr. died Monday afternoon.
“Willard Murray, Jr. was an exceptional man and public servant dedicating more than 25 years to government service, working for Congressman Mervyn Dymally, the Los Angeles City Council, and the Los Angeles Mayor, Sam Yorty,” according to a caucus statement.
Murray first won election to the Assembly in 1988, and he served in office until 1996. During his time in office, Murray served as chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on State Administration.
“Murray’s legislative agenda focused on addressing education, criminal justice, economic development and healthcare,” according to the caucus statement.
Murray also made history when he and his son, Kevin Murray, became the first father-son duo to serve in the Assembly at the same time.
“We are saddened to learn of his passing, and yet we celebrate his life and his extraordinary accomplishments in government politics,” the caucus statement read.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Candidates and elected officials make lots of empty promises. But you can take this one to the bank: I hereby promise you that I will never, ever ask for campaign contributions by pretending to be a cat.”
- Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham, R-San Luis Obispo, via Twitter.
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