Nussle: TouchPlay poses threat to Iowa’s reputation

in today's newspaper, nussle comes out against touchplay saying that it ruined iowa's reputation. he also blames iowa's problems on taxes (and taxes and taxes).

U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle said Monday he favors removal of TouchPlay machines because they pose a threat to Iowa’s reputation.

During a campaign stop at the Mason City Library, Nussle, Republican candidate for governor, said, “We have a reputation of being a safe, clean, healthy place to raise kids.

“If we lose that, we lose a lot. That’s why I took on TouchPlay. I thought it was important to say enough is enough,” he said.

(snip)

Nussle’s opposition to TouchPlay cost him a big financial backer. Bill Krause, owner of Kum & Go Corp. and a major investor in the TouchPlay industry, withdrew his support for Nussle shortly after Nussle came out against TouchPlay.

(snip)

In answer to questions from an audience of about 20, Nussle said a lot of Iowa’s problems are caused by “taxes, taxes, taxes.”

Globe Gazette

i wonder how many other small businesses will pull their support for nussle, and since his only competition will be from democrats, how many of those small businesses will vote democrat this year. just think, if we could get every kum & go to have a poster of a democrat (i'm still undecided which), the chances of us keeping the governorship in the D column would be much higher.

but I agree with Nussle on this.

I think the touchplay machines are tacky and would do nothing but bring the quality of life down for the "common man".

in 2002. Because they all voted 'no' on Touch Play.

It's Christopher Rants and the republicans fault, not the Democrats. That is why it's a good idea to ban them (not because Jim Nussle said so, but because they never should have been here in the first place)! :hi:

of the touchplay machines not because it was the right thing to do but because the casino boys were putting pressure on him. The casino income was being hurt by the touchplay. I suspect that underneath Nussle's verneer of morality lies some money from someone who gained by the banning of touchplay.

So I guess him and Nussle are on the same page. At least on this one issue. But it ain't over yet. This almost certainly will end up in court. There is just too much money involved here.

when he signed the bill into law. He could have sent it back with some major restrictions (he could have listened to EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT in the legislature who voted against the bill)

Why would Vilsack vote for a republican bill??? Oh, yeah, 2002 was an election year - wasn't it the same year he signed the bill into law that restricted women's reproductive health care rights and the English Only bill? Man, who was he looking out for in 2002? Glad he's supporting a man who's running for Governor with the same backbone he has! :eyes:

(Oh, and Governor, thanks for leaving ALL Iowans in a position to get sued for MILLIONS of dollars because of you lack of foresight and spine - who pays all that money back to these groups? Iowa Taxpayers. Who pays the lawyers for their work on the law suit? Iowa Tax Payers. Who really go screwed in this whole debacle? Iowa Tax Payers.

But what does Tom Vilsack care? He'll be living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, screw the Iowa Tax Payers!

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=NEWS&theme=touchplay&template=theme

you would be AMAZED at how much money gets put into those machines.

i'm not for the ban. i guess i call it personal responsibility. hope that doesnt make me a repuke.

Is that the same compassion you have towards drug abusers? Alcoholics? Sure, in a perfect world, without addictions, we would be able to say its a matter of "personal responsibility", but putting gaming machines in every corner store makes it awfully hard for someone to stay on the straight and narrow when they struggle with addiction. Addicts can ban themselves from gaming operations, but how can they ban themselves from the gas station? The grocery store?

Is it an addict's personal responsibility to make sure that our legislators do not authorize gambling by going around our existing gambling protocols (ie. getting a gaming license and establishing a gaming venue)?

Whose personal responsibility is it then to make sure we don't have strip clubs without licenses? Whose responsibility is it to make sure people don't sell alcohol or tobacco without a proper license.

Money is no excuse. Using that logic, the state should be able to authorize "lottery" machines that dole out porn, or alcohol, or cigarettes, so long as they are making money.

I don't understand your argument here.

here on this forum. Your personal story, hopefully, will educate others on why having them everywhere is not a great idea.

My heart goes out to you. There are people in this world who will never understand addiction (not that I fully understand it) and in some way they are lucky. Unfortunately your job is to continually educate the uneducated all while doing all you can to support the addict in their recovery. That is an exhausting job.

:hug: again to you.

I didn't mean to come across like a jerk, but damn it irritates me when people fail to grasp the importance of this issue. Half the time I try to just keep my mouth shut and go about my business, but sometimes I can't help it.

I have the misfortune of having drug addicts, gamblers, and alcoholics in my immediate family and have had to help them through their struggles. It IS hard, and it is a burden to carry, and I just can't deal with people who are blind to it. I can't say that I have never had moments where I just want to say "GET OVER IT", but then rational thought returns and I realize that it just isn't that easy.

Life can be hard, but hey, we are all here for a reason.

being who's life has been influenced by addiction. Don't ever apologize for being real.

d.

Addiction is a disease. Just like cancer or diabetes. A person cannot get rid of disease with will power, they have to receive treatment. Just like cancer or diabetes some people deny that they have the disease until after it has destroyed their lives and the lives of people they love. Some are able early to recognize the disease and seek treatment, but the disease can come back and they have to start treatment all over again. Addiction is destructive and sneaky and truly terrible.

Unlike smoking or drinking or using drugs, addiction to gambling bankrupts a person and their family and friends. Just saying "I'll stay away from casinos" doesn't stop the addiction. They have to self-ban and build road blocks and support systems (and they still can end up gambling). Now, thanks to Touch Play an addict cannot go buy a gallon of milk or a gallon of gas w/out having their addiction staring right at them, inviting them to "just spend the change" or "maybe only $20.00". There are no safeguards, no way to stop the disease, right there in front of their faces.


Please reconsider your position on addiction. I hope your position is because your life has never been touched by the awfulness of any addiction. You'd be very lucky if that's the case. It's hell. Truly hell.

in grocery and convenience stores in the first place. Not a single Democrat voted FOR Touch Play machines, now we have to clean up Christopher Rants and the rest of the Iowa republican legislatures mess.

Jim, you should spank your supporters for screwing up and YOU should find a way to pay for the mess w/out raising our taxes!

:rofl:

(For the record, I don't think the machines need to be around either. I do think that the legislatures need to be held accountable for their vote and I don't think the taxpayers should be the ones left holding the bag).