By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 business commentator
Dallas, TX – It always softens our feelings of despair when we know we're not alone. Agencies, cities and states all across the U.S. are experiencing the economic crunch. Here's what they're doing and saying. I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Midday.
The following stories were all found at bizjournals.com:
Our neighbors just to the west of us in New Mexico are attempting to take more money from the successful tribal casinos. Actually, it's not the state itself, although New Mexico has also raised their regulatory fees. The National Indian Gaming Commission, a regulatory agency, has received authority to up the fees it charges tribally-owned casinos. The commission says they got hurt in the economic crunch. $2 million earmarked in the Congressional Budget never got to the Commission. So it went behind the backs of the tribal authorities and asked the casinos to fork up more money then they agreed upon. Oh, how history repeats itself. No doubt about it, the tribal gaming industry has grown. In 1988, revenues from the casinos were $100 million, in 2001, over $12.5 billion. But these casinos are some of the only means for economic stimulus on the reservations. Whether you call it obligation or guilt, we owe this money to the American Indian. I just wish there was a healthier way to keep a roof over their heads.
At North Carolina University, a forum of politicians, academics and business leaders accused the state of falling behind other states when it comes to leveraging technology to advance its economic development. Basically, they accused North Carolina of falling asleep at the wheel. Citing other states have aggressively invested in tech-based economies, North Carolina has no real vision or plan. I would like to ask the gentleman from North Carolina, what does he mean by "aggressively;" unless he's talking about aggressively cutting funding.
And one more headline: "State budget in 'death spiral' recommendations: change school funding, reform prison system, reduce tax credits." All but the last and I'd say it was Texas instead of Missouri. For KERA Marketplace Midday, I'm Maxine Shapiro.
Marketplace Midday Reports air on KERA 90.1 Monday - Friday at 1:04 p.m. To contact Maxine Shapiro, please send emails to mshapiro@kera.org.