New ads on gambling ballot proposal air

TITLE: "Racetrack Money" LENGTH: 30 seconds PRODUCER: Winner & Mandabach Campaigns AIRING: Statewide SCRIPT: Announcer: "The governor and other politicians are appearing in ads attacking Proposal 1. But the money behind those ads comes from racetracks that want to open new casinos in Michigan. In fact, the treasurer of the group against Proposal 1 is a paid lobbyist for racetracks. "The politicians and racetracks have plans to allow nine huge Las Vegas-style casinos at racetracks...and slot machines in bars and restaurants. Don't let the racetracks and politicians take away our right to vote on casino gambling. Vote yes on 1...to let the voters decide." KEY IMAGES: Video begins with a snippet of an ad featuring Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm and House Speaker Rick Johnson, who oppose Proposal 1. The ad then shows horse racing footage and images of campaign finance documents. ANALYSIS: This ad is a direct response to one showing Gov. Jennifer Granholm and House Speaker Rick Johnson in opposition to Proposal 1, which would require most new gambling operations to get voter approval at state and local levels. Michigan horse tracks would like to add slot machines and video lottery terminals to their operations. Versions of legislation that would allow that have passed the House and Senate, but the versions are quite different and have stalled in a conference committee. Lottery Commissioner Gary Peters said Monday the lottery does not plan to have slot machines as part of its core offerings. A version of the legislation pending in conference committee would tie slot machines at race tracks into the lottery system. Two committees are funding the anti-Proposal 1 efforts. The one that paid for the Granholm-Johnson ad is called Committee to Protect Our Schools — Vote No on Proposal 1. The treasurer for that committee is a lawyer for the Michigan Racing Association and the anti-Proposal 1 campaign overall largely has been funded by horse track interests. But the committee also includes money from education-related groups, said Kelly Rossman McKinney, a spokeswoman for a group opposing Proposal 1. Several education groups are against the proposal. The pro-Proposal 1 campaign is heavily funded by casino interests from Detroit and Indian tribes. •__ TITLE: Untitled LENGTH: 30 seconds PRODUCER: Winner & Mandabach Campaigns AIRING: Statewide SCRIPT: Michael Lawrence, constitutional law professor at Michigan State University College of Law: "I've studied Proposal 1 and concluded that it's good public policy. The gambling interests' ads claiming that Proposal 1 affects Indian casinos, school funds or lottery funds are totally misleading. "The fact is Indian casinos are controlled by federal law, not state law. And Proposal 1 doesn't take one cent away from schools or the lottery. It simply ensures the public's right to vote on future plans to expand gambling. "I strongly recommend a 'yes' vote on 1." KEY IMAGES: Michael Lawrence, a constitutional law professor at Michigan State University, in his office. ANALYSIS: Proposal 1 supporters and opponents sharply disagree on its potential impact on state lottery games. Proposal 1 supporters say the measure would affect no games established before Jan. 1, 2004. They say the lottery would be able to vary existing games — including Club Keno and Mega Millions — and offer several types of new games if the proposal passes. But lottery and education officials, along with Gov. Jennifer Granholm, worry that a strict interpretation of the proposal would dramatically affect the lottery's ability to change games or introduce new ones. That could affect the more than $600 million the lottery provides to public schools each year, they say. The final decision on Proposal 1's impact could rest with state courts. •__ Analysis by Tim Martin, Associated Press writer.