This week, Virginia senators are considering a bill to permit a casino in Fairfax County. Residents are overwhelmingly against the bill, but its sponsor, Democratic state Sen. David Marsden, doesn’t seem to be at all dissuaded by the opposition of his constituents.
In fact, Marsden completely excluded the community and local politicians from the legislative drafting process. In particular, relevant Fairfax County Board of Supervisors members Dalia Palchik, Walter Alcorn, and Chair Jeff McKay were left out of Marsden’s legislative plot with the casino’s developer, Comstock Holding Companies.
Marsden’s unwavering support for casino development in a community that neither wants nor needs it doesn’t pass the smell test. In politics, when things do not pass that test, following the money can solve many mysteries. The case of this casino plan is archetypal.
Political action committees and special interest groups associated with the casino have provided large donations to many of Virginia’s politicians. The casino is part of a proposal for The View development in Tysons, a joint venture by Saudi Arabian firm Khalid Juffali and the Northern Virginia firm Clemente Development . In the last four months, Clemente has given $205,000 to Building a Remarkable Virginia PAC , which is one of the largest donors to Marsden and his allies in the state Senate.