内布拉斯加州州长否决博彩业扩张法案

　　通过允许场外赌马法案的内布拉斯加州议员们在担心这一天是否能到来了，周一该州州长Dave Heineman否决了这项法案，连同反对理由一起返回给了议员。

　　内布拉斯加州是少数几个在法律上一直严格控制博彩赌博的州，在其他许多州为了缓解经济衰退压力而大肆扩张赌场、彩票以及其他形式的博彩赌博项目时，内布拉斯加州仍然只允许现场赌马，州长认为这就是法律所能允许的了。

　　“这项法案与选民们依据宪法制定的现场赌马规定相抵触，涉及的扩张超出了目前法律所允许的范围”州长在一份否决该法案的声明中称。

　　在州长试图保护现场赌马行业的同时，这可能是内布拉斯加州将要付出最大代价的一次法案否决，这个法案是想帮助赌马在经济衰退的阴影下吸引更多的主顾，赛马业因经济衰退已经濒临破产，许多州为了努力吸引赌客而增加赌马的项目。

　　许可场外赌马的想法源自阿肯色州，并已经蔓延到肯塔基州，这种赌博方法的前提是场内赛马在显示器上播出，场外的赌客知道那一场比赛可以投注，赌客可以对某场赛马的结果下注，同时相应的赛马比赛会在屏幕上显示。

　　议员们有使州长的反对无效的权利，但是他们距离这一目标差了4票，这就使法案的命运掌握在周一行使自己权利的州长手里。

　　现在议员们可以修改法案使之符合州长的要求，不过今年这个法案是不太可能通过了。州长在周一没有提供合宪性之外反对法案的详细理由。

　　译文：

　　Nebraska Governor Vetoes Gambling Expansion Bill

　　Lawmakers that passed a bill that would allow betting on past horse races in Nebraska were concerned that this day could be coming. On Monday, Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman vetoed the legislation, sending the bill back to lawmakers with a list of objections.

　　Nebraska is one of the few states that has stayed strict with their gambling laws. While dozens of other states have brought new casinos, lotteries, and other forms of gambling to help offset the economic recession, Nebraska remained with only betting on live horse races, and that is where the governor believes the law was intended to stop.

　　"This law contradicts the spirit of the live horse racing provisions enacted by the voters in the Nebraska Constitution and expands gambling beyond what has currently been authorized," said Governor Heineman, in a statement vetoing the legislation.

　　While it was the live racing industry that Heineman was attempting to protect, it may be the tracks in Nebraska that pay the biggest price from the veto. The bill was aimed at helping the tracks attract more customers in the aftermath of the recession. The racing industry has been among the hardest hit by the recession, with many states adding casinos at the tracks to try and lure gamblers.

　　The idea to allow betting on past races started in Arkansas, and has spread to Kentucky. The premise behind the idea is that old races are shown on a monitor, without the gambler knowing which race is airing. The bettor can then place a wager on the race, which will,in turn, play out on the screen.

　　Legislators had the opportunity to make the bill veto-proof, but they fell four votes short of that goal. That left the legislation in the hands of Heineman, who delivered his veto Monday.

　　There is now a chance that lawmakers try to rework the bill in order to fit the specifications of the governor, but it is unlikely that a gambling bill will pass this year. Beyond the constitutionality, Heineman did not offer details on Monday as to the other parts of the bill to which he objected.