A key member of the Republican House, Turner who has recurrently admitted that two years ago his stance on the issue of slot machine legislation would have been unequivocally negative. Currently, he said he had a talk with his pastor discussing the necessity for improved children health care and the state's poor budget, which makes it impossible to demand additional revenue for children, better salaries for judges, tax curtailing without having any means to cover those expanses. Two proposals were filed, by him, the House Bill 897 and House joint Resolution 38 for Texas gambling expansion.
Specific location for slot machines has not yet been specified by the bill, but there could be one site in each of nine areas across the state and the anticipated annual revenues are estimated to reach $1.2 billion. Under the session's first gambling legislation, video slot machines are planned to be within driving distance of nearly every Texan. The slot measure first would have to be presented in the House to pass through the most rigorous opposition, requiring a two-third vote of the Legislature.
Turner maintained that now seems to be the best time for introducing video slots to the public, with a continuous battle the state is engaged in to gain means for allowing property tax curtailment, as well as resources for educational programs.
