Eyes will be on the state Senate today as it resumes work ongaming legislation following Hurricane Katrina.

Before adjourning the special session, the House voted Friday toallow casinos to move 800 feet onshore instead of 1,500 feet as hadbeen proposed. The Senate worked until midnight Friday beforeadjourning until 2 p.m. today.

District 53 Rep. Bobby Moak, chairman of the House GamingCommittee, said the House bill is the only legislation that hasbeen looked at. He anticipated approval of the House bill in theSenate, but he was not sure.

“I expect that to occur in the Senate, but who knows,” saidMoak, D-Bogue Chitto. “Senate politics are completely differentthan the House.”

District 39 Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith believes there is a simplemajority in the Senate to approve a gaming bill.

“If it was a three-fifths vote, it would be more difficult,” thesenator said.

Hyde-Smith, though, indicated the special session could be farfrom over. She expected the Senate to offer changes and amendmentsto the House measure.

“I can see a couple of days of good debate on it, and I thinkthe House will be called back to Jackson,” Hyde-Smith said.

Hyde-Smith mentioned one possible amendment to prohibitexpansion of casinos unless there is a statewide referendum. Shealso expected a move to address some “serious drafting problems” toget clearer language in the House bill.

“I think the 800 feet will stay the same,” Hyde-Smith said.

Hyde-Smith alluded to 2005 legislation that allowed casinos tobuild on pilings. The law did not take effect until July 1, but itwas something the gaming industry wanted.

“They seemed very content with that before the storm,” saidHyde-Smith, adding that building on pilings would protectsurrounding property owners and prevent barges from becoming”projectiles” during storms.

District 92 Rep. Dr. Jim Barnett said he expected the Senate toapprove a gaming bill. However, he also anticipated changes andsaid he thinks the House will have to return Wednesday.

After getting hundreds of e-mails and calls, Barnett opposed theHouse bill last week.

“Everybody was very sincere about their feelings,” Barnettsaid.

In the overall picture, Barnett downplayed the onshore casinoissue.

“The casinos are not going to leave the coast whether or notthey’re on land,” Barnett said.

Hyde-Smith also acknowledged the controversy over the gamingbill.

“It’s been a real emotional issue for a lot of people inMississippi. It’s not a hard issue for me,” said Hyde-Smith, addingshe has always opposed gaming.

Hyde-Smith stopped short of saying she would oppose the latestmeasure, saying she wants to see and read fully the final versionof the legislation. However, she repeated an earlier sentiment thatthe state “can’t smoke, drink or gamble” its way out of acrisis.

“That’s still the way I feel,” Hyde-Smith said.

Moak supported the House measure.

“I simply believe this time it was the right vote,” he said.

Moak cited the approximately 50,000 jobs associated with thegaming industry. Of those, 14,000-15,000 are directly related togaming while about 35,000 are indirectly tied to it.

“It’s not jobs that are lost; it’s jobs that are in limbo,” Moaksaid.