It’s in the P-I

One of the striking things about Tim Eyman’s I-892 (Slots for Tots) is the unanimous barrage of bad press it has generated. Part of it comes from the initiative’s cruel and arrogant stupidity. And part of it comes from its cruel backer’s stupid arrogance.

Today’s Seattle P-I offers two more reasons to oppose I-892. First, a well-researched piece of reporting by the always thorough Neil Modie, explores I-892’s Canadian sponsor’s possible violation of Federal election laws: “Canadian firm downplays links to I-892 backers.”

It’s probably even worse than Neil reports. The Great Canadian Gaming Corporation has also made direct and indirect contributions to the Entertainment Industry Coalition, which appears to be making independent expenditures on I-892 without properly reporting them to the PDC. But more on that later.

Also in the P-I is a guest column by Chi-Dooh Li, warning that slot machines could be a windfall for organized crime: “Gambling industry has itself a hired gun.”

In my opinion, I-892 is already a windfall for organized crime: Tim Eyman.