A recent financial report reveals Ho-Chunk Nation's campaign for a \yes"" vote Feb. 17 for the expansion of DeJope casino, 4002 Evan Acres Rd., has set an all-time record for campaign spending in Dane County, according to No Dane Casino member Jim Youngerman.
""This is an attempt to buy an election,"" he said.
Ho-Chunk has received $1,344,000 in campaign contributions and has spent $991,000 on its campaign, according to Youngerman. He said this breaks Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk's record of $235,000 spent on her campaign in 1997.
""This is a ridiculous amount of money,"" said Common Cause Director Jay Heck, adding the sheer amount of money Ho-Chunk is spending could skew the referendum vote, since it is outspending its opponent, No Dane Casino, by more than 40 to 1.
""That's the disturbing part about it,"" Heck said.
Amid Ho-Chunk's massive campaign, UW-Madison students announced yesterday the formation of Students Against Casino Expansion, a grassroots organization campaigning against the expansion of DeJope.
""None of us are being paid. None of us have booklets with political responses. All we have is passion and a lot of love to the city of Madison and Dane County,"" said UW-Madison senior Joe Shumow, who organized the group.
According to Ald. Austin King, District 8, there is no question the majority of people who will be voting Feb. 17 on the referendum will be college students, many of whom are undecided about which way they will vote on the casino. He said Students Against Casino Expansion will target this voter majority.
Students should be concerned about the casino, said Shumow, because it will detract from the vitality of the downtown community. He said money and potential student jobs will be diverted from the downtown area to the casino.
""This is a raw deal for students,"" he said.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he is pleased to see students take opposition to the proposed expansion. He said he is very concerned the casino will nullify all the hard work citizens did to revitalize downtown Madison.
Shumow said the group will hand out leaflets this weekend on campus.
""Voting 'yes' is permanent. Voting 'no' is not permanent,"" he said. ""Saying no just means we don't want a casino in Madison right now.\
