From K’zoo Gazette, via Pechanga:

KALAMAZOO — A pair of proposals to expand gambling in Michigan would be bad for the state because they would strip away local residents’ ability to have a say in whether a casino is opened in their community, opponents say.

“We are working to preserve the right of each community to have a vote on gaming expansion,” James Nye, spokesman for Protect MI Vote, told the Kalamazoo Gazette’s Editorial Board on Tuesday.

Nye also serves as spokesman for the Gun Lake Tribe of Pottawatomi Indians, which is constructing the Gun Lake Casino in Wayland Township.

Daniel Adkins, spokesman for the pro-expansion group Racing to Save Michigan, said Nye’s arguments are undermined by the fact that Nye’s group receives money from casinos.

“The man’s goal is to make sure there is no competition. That’s the goal,” said Adkins, who is also vice president and chief operating officer of Hazel Park Harness Raceway.

A 2004 amendment to the state constitution requires that both state and local voter approval be given for any expansion of electronic gaming in Michigan. The requirement does not extend to casinos on tribal lands.

Adkins said he believes local residents would continue to have a say. Adkins’ group wants to allow casinos at five Michigan horse racing tracks, and at three other locations.

The other pro-expansion group, Michigan is Yours, proposes seven casinos in communities that have expressed interest, such as Muskegon, Lansing and Benton Harbor, said group member Trevor Sarter.

“We didn’t want it to be a situation where we are trying to push this down anyone’s throat,” Sarter said.

The groups need to collect more than 380,000 valid signatures by early July to get their measures on the November ballot.