Easy money?

Gambling as financial salvation? Not so fast. States that bring in slot machines do not witness an end to their tax and spend woes, according to a report out of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Casino solutions are "short term at best" and "can saddle the state with bad policy for a long, long time,"according to Public Administration Professor William N. Thompson and assistant professor Christopher Stream. But it's very difficult for some public officials to deal with their revenue envy when their perceive that the state next door is ringing up revenues from slots. Gambling funds appear to be "easy" money. That is, no one has to be taxed unwillingly. After all, making the hard choice to raise taxes or drastically cut spending can mean re-election becomes a gamble.