FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2023
Contact: Laura Macklem
[email protected]
NC VALUES APPLAUDS DECISION TO TAKE CASINOS OUT OF THE BUDGET, URGES LAWMAKERS TO VOTE AGAINST EXPANSION OF GAMBLING
NC Values Coalition Executive Director Tami Fitzgerald made a statement today about the General Assembly’s decision to separate the budget from legalization of casinos:
“NC Values Coalition is pleased that legalization of casinos and video lottery terminals is no longer a threat to funding for pregnancy care centers or Universal Opportunity Scholarships in the budget, and we thank lawmakers who stood against predatory gambling. We issued a letter laying out our concerns urging our representatives not to support casinos and video lottery terminals, as it would create a cesspool of addiction, crime, human trafficking, family breakdown, and drunk driving. Predatory gambling erodes the social fabric of communities and hurts families, especially the poor. We also asked our coalition to contact legislators and voice their opposition to holding the budget and good policy in the budget like Universal Opportunity Scholarships and funding for pregnancy care centers hostage just to legalize casino cesspools and video lottery terminals. We will continue to advocate for legislation to protect North Carolina values, and against legislation which will have devastating consequences on the family.”
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