Legislator says casino tax bill could send the wrong message

A key republican lawmaker says the Iowa Senate is in danger of sending Iowansthe message that they’re more willing to cut taxes for casinos than forpeople. The Senate next week will debate a gambling moratorium bill whichwould freeze the taxes the state’s race tracks pay to the state. Thosetaxes are scheduled to go up 10 percent over the next five years. Representative Christopher Rants, a republican from Sioux City, is the HouseMajority Leader-Elect.Rants says House Republicans aren’t interested in reducing taxes for racetracks.The House on Monday endorsed a nearly 74-million dollar package of incometax cuts. Rants says if the Senate fails to endorse a property tax cut,House members will begin work on a bill of their own to cut property taxesby over 40-million.