Mississippi casinos don't need help from Congress, he said in 2005
In 2005, then Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., now a leading GOP presidential candidate, strongly supported legislation that provided tax breaks to businesses that returned, relocated or opened facilities in the Gulf Coast after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, according to a check of congressional records. But he drew the line when it came to helping Mississippi casinos.
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum "Clearly, the casinos and gaming industry do not need Congress to give them tax breaks to entice them to reopen," Santorum said in a December 2005 floor speech. "More importantly, there are significant concerns about the impact of gambling on communities and families."
Still, he urged Senate colleagues to pass "GoZone" legislation, intended to provide tax incentives for other non gaming business within communities affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
"This package is needed legislation that will continue to drive redevelopment and provide encouragement for businesses and others to come back and rebuild, creating jobs in the rebuilding and jobs in the businesses themselves and providing much needed revenues for the local communities," Santorum said.