A statement from LIUNA Vice President and Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager Dennis L. Martire in response to the Virginia House committee's vote on HB 1373. 

Reston, Va. (February 3, 2023) - The Virginia General Assembly House Committee on Appropriations ignored the right of Petersburg residents to make an informed decision on the city’s proposed casino project with its passage today of HB 1373.

The bill would allow a referendum on the casino despite the selection of a developer to build and operate the casino being shrouded in secrecy.

While LIUNA is disappointed in the House action, a Senate committee earlier rejected SB 780, blocking the referendum. Just as LIUNA successfully fought against that bill, the union is optimistic that when the House bill returns to the Senate, the committee will once again stand up for transparency, stay on the side of Petersburg’s working families, and oppose any back-room deals represented by the bill.

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