JUNEAU ‹ A bill that could lead to a casino opening in Anchorage narrowly failed in the House on Saturday, but it could come up for another vote today.
The House also passed legislation intended to address concerns that electronic voting machines, which will be used on a limited basis this year in Alaska, could malfunction.
The casino bill was voted down 19-19 after a lengthy debate over whether a casino would provide valuable jobs and revenue to the state or create a host of social ills and open the door to more gambling in Alaska.
Bills need 21 votes to pass the House.
Rep. Bill Williams, R-Saxman, gave notice that he'd bring the measure up for a reconsideration vote today. He's co-chair of the House Finance Committee, which sponsored the bill.
''Maybe we'll convince other members between now and then to change their votes,'' Williams said.
Two legislators were absent Saturday, Reps. Sharon Cissna, D-Anchorage, and Jim Holm, R-Fairbanks. Williams said he did not know whether they would support the bill.
Rep. Norm Rokeberg, R-Anchorage, initially voted in favor of the bill, but switched to a ''no'' vote after it was clear the bill was failing. He would not say why he changed his vote.
Perry Green, a well-known Anchorage furrier and poker player, is pushing the legislation. He wants to put a casino in the shuttered Alaska Seafood International plant, which is owned by the state.
The bill would set up an Alaska Gaming Commission, which would be allowed to license one gambling facility in Anchorage. Green said he envisions an operation that would put 1,000 people to work.
Rep. Tom Anderson, R-Anchorage, portrayed the project as a net gain for Alaska.
''It's going to reduce unemployment,'' Anderson said. ''I think it will generate a substantial amount of money.''
He said he's seen statistics showing no substantial effect on serious crime rates or bankruptcy rates when a casino opens.
Opponents argued that a casino will hurt Alaska.
Rep. Nancy Dahlstrom, R-Eagle River, said it's likely to create trouble for people who have problems with addictions.
''I believe that gambling is a menace to society,'' Dahlstrom said
Opponents also said the bill could open the door to more casinos because Alaska could be required to allow casinos operated by Indian tribes. Legislators ‹ some of them lawyers ‹ offered differing opinions as to whether that would be the case.
Even if the bill passes the House today, it probably will have a tough time making it through the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Ben Stevens, R-Anchorage, said he does not oppose the bill, but other senators do, and it would have ''an uphill battle'' there.
The House also passed a measure to require paper records for votes cast by electronic voting machines, as soon as that is technologically feasible.
Also, the state Division of Elections is to put no more than one electronic voting machine in a precinct. Most voters would continue to use the hand-marked ballots Alaska has been using.
Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, said the bill addresses a concern that the software for the electronic voting machines can malfunction and miscount votes.
Without a paper trail voters cannot be certain their votes are recorded accurately, and it is impossible to recount votes, he said.
The bill passed 34-0.
Voting for the casino bill were Reps. Anderson; Ethan Berkowitz, D-Anchorage; Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski; Hugh ''Bud'' Fate, R-Fairbanks; Richard Foster, D-Nome; Max Gruenberg, D-Anchorage; John Harris, R-Valdez; Mike Hawker, R-Anchorage; Cheryll Heinze, R-Anchorage; Mary Kapsner, D-Bethel; Pete Kott, R-Eagle River; Beverly Masek, R-Willow; Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage; Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage; Carl Morgan, R-Aniak; Carl Moses, D-Unalaska; Nick Stepovich, R-Fairbanks; Will-iams; and Kelly Wolf, R-Kenai.
