By RONNIE ELLIS
CNHI News Service
FRANKFORT
June 17, 2009 12:19 pm
—
Johnny Bell wants badly to help the Glasgow Independent School District replace its 44-year-old high school. So badly he was at least thinking about whether he could best serve his community by voting against expanded gambling or voting for a new Glasgow High School.
But then, he said, House Democratic leadership made it plain in a two-hour plus caucus meeting Tuesday – you either vote for slots at the tracks or you get nothing.
Bell has twice introduced bills to help districts like Glasgow raise more money for buildings – only to be told each time the state budget couldn’t handle it or now isn’t the right time.
“But I found out today we change the rules in midstream, and if a person is not able to vote for the gambling issue, then their school won’t be built,” said an obviously upset Bell after the caucus meeting.
As he spoke, Rep. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, came up and said, “I love Johnny Bell.” Rep. Tim Firkins, D-Louisville, laughed and said, “That’s ‘whole-hog’ Johnny Bell.”
Bell apparently had objected the “whole hog” approach offered by House leadership in the Democrats-only meeting. Webb said she wouldn’t sell her vote, either. There are at least two schools in her home of Carter County that might qualify.
House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, had just informed reporters that House leaders “explained the economic development plan and asked them to look at it and give us a response.” But he wasn’t talking about a proposal by Gov. Steve Beshear for economic development incentives which he placed on the agenda of the special session. He was talking about a bill to allow slot machines at horse tracks.
“We’re suggesting an economic stimulus construction plan,” said Stumbo. The idea is to use state proceeds from video lottery terminals at the tracks to fund replacement of 16 or so “category five schools,” those deemed in the worst condition. That would cost the sate about $10.5 million a year in debt service, Stumbo said.
But he also gave members a list of category four schools and said some of those might be moved into the category five division and funded as well. If all are considered, Stumbo said, it would cost the state about $61 million in annual debt service.
Stumbo has frequently questioned the criteria by which schools are classified by condition and category, contending that many category four schools are actually in worse shape than some of the category five buildings. He said Tuesday every House Democrat was given a list and asked to indicate which category four schools might properly be considered category five, saying he trusted people who lived in the community more than state bureaucrats.
Not all of the category four schools were likely to be moved into category five, Stumbo said, because some aren’t in that bad shape.
But Firkins suggested the criteria is not so much the condition of the school as the willingness of that district’s representative to cast a yes vote for the slots bill. Asked if the offer by leadership was either vote for the VLTs and get a school project or get no school with a no vote on the bill, he said, “Yeah, that’s pretty much what they said.”
Bell was asked how he would vote.
“I’m going to vote my district,” he said. Bell represents Barren County, a generally socially conservative area where expanded gambling is controversial.
Earlier in the day, about 300 filled the capitol rotunda for a Family Foundation rally opposing the gambling legislation. Preachers and lawmakers rallied the crowd, one reminding those present of the Biblical story of David and Goliath – and that David won.
Two other of Beshear’s bills passed favorably out of the House budget committee Tuesday – a bill to create funding authorities for mega-projects and one to revise the state’s economic development package. Webb and Rep. Jim Wayne, D-Louisville, criticized the funding authority bill for lack of legislative oversight and Wayne criticized the economic development bill for providing tax credits and incentives for business that pay “poverty wages.” But both passed the committee.
Among the category five schools which Stumbo’s plan for gambling revenues might replace with new schools:
• Carter Elementary, Carter County
• North Metcalfe Elementary, Metcalfe County
• Summer Shade Elementary, Metcalfe County
Among the category four schools which Stumbo’s plan for gambling revenues might replace:
• Boyd County High
• Star Elementary, Carter County
• Caverna Elementary, Barren County
• Lakesville Elementary, Elliott County
• Glasgow High
• Hart County High
• Knox Central Middle School
• Bellevue Alternative and Day Treatment, Madison County
• Metcalfe County Middle
• Edmonton Elementary, Metcalfe County
• Central Alternative, Pulaski County
• Worthington Elementary
• Russell High
• Whitley County High
• Pleasant View Elementary, Whitley County
Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com.
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