|
|
Published June 05, 2009 12:28 pm - It’s been debated for more than a decade. Now Gov. Steve Beshear thinks it’s finally time to put expanded gambling before lawmakers – if not before the general public.
Beshear adds slots at tracks to special session
By RONNIE ELLIS
CNHI News Service
FRANKFORT
—
It’s been debated for more than a decade. Now Gov. Steve Beshear thinks it’s finally time to put expanded gambling before lawmakers – if not before the general public.
On Thursday, Beshear added video lottery terminals — electronic slots — at horse tracks to the agenda of the special session he’s called for June 15. And Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, the highest profile opponent of expanded gambling, countered with a non-gambling funded proposal to increase purses at the tracks.
Saying Kentucky is in danger of becoming the “former horse capitol of the world,” Beshear called on lawmakers to pass a bill he is crafting to authorize VLTs at the tracks, a bill that would not include a constitutional amendment.
“The legislature, in our judgment, has the authority to enact this legislation without a constitutional amendment,” Beshear said. “Now we must determine if we have the will to do so.”
Two years ago, Beshear campaigned on allowing the public to vote on expanded gambling, but he said Thursday that involved “full blown casinos” and this bill would only allow another form of gambling at sites where it already exists.
Beshear conceded he doesn’t know if there are sufficient votes or political will to pass the measure.
“We could spend the next six months talking to legislators and trying to build support and we’d likely be right where we are today,” he said. “It’s time to vote on it – up or down.”
Asked if his bill passed the House, but lost a floor vote in the Senate, would that end the debate, Beshear hedged.
“I think it depends on a lot of things, how close it is and issues like that,” Beshear said. “It’s really impossible to make judgment like that until you really see something.”
Beshear wouldn’t provide specifics of the bill he is drafting or how it differs from one House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, introduced in the 2009 regular session. But he said it takes “the same approach” as Stumbo’s bill, which would restrict the VLTs to the tracks and devote money to raising purses and breeders’ incentives to compete with states such as Indiana, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, which supplement purses with gambling revenue.
“We’re still working out the details and as soon as we finalize the bill, we’ll put it out for public view,” Beshear said.
Industry officials contend those higher purses and incentives are drawing horses and owners away from Kentucky and threatening the survival of smaller tracks like Ellis Raceway in Henderson and Turfway in northern Kentucky.
Williams responded with his own plan and again said he does not believe there are enough votes to pass the measure in the House where it must originate and where some members may be reluctant to take a controversial vote without assurances it has at least a chance of passing the Senate.
Stumbo’s bill would have produced about $60 million in supplemental purses. Williams said the state can generate $69 million for the same purpose – without gambling – through a surcharge on lottery ticket sales, devoting sales taxes on horse supplies and products, and taxing out of state betting on Kentucky races. Williams’ proposal would match Stumbo’s with $13 million in breeders’ incentives.
“The question is how can we help racing,” Williams said. “The answer is this proposal.”
|
|
 |
|
MANAGEMENT (KEYHOLDER) POSITION WITH LOCAL
shoe store. Exciting career opportunity. Retail experience preferred. Competitive benefit package. Apply at SHOE SHOW, 2...>MORE
ADULT THERAPIST
LifeSkills has a full-time Adult Therapist position available for our service center in Metcalfe County. The position is...>MORE
BLUEGRASS SUPPLY CHAIN SERVICES
Has immediate part time forklift operator openings at a client location in Edmonton, KY. Team members are responsible fo...>MORE
CAREER MINDED INDIVIDUALS SEARCHING FOR A HOME
We offer HOME ON WEEKENDS!! 2500 miles per week 100% no touch freight No force dispatch to NYC. Safety & ...>MORE
ELECTRICIAN WANTED. KY LICENSE PREFERRED.
OSHA 10 hr. 10+ years exp., commercial, EOE, Drug free workplace. Job is located in Glasgow, KY. Interested applicants c...>MORE
OPENING FOR PET GROOMER-STYLIST
for bush pet boarding & grooming business. Pleasant working environment with established client base. 5 years experience...>MORE
See all ads |
|
05 KIA - $4,995; 02 CHEVY MALIBU 80k mi. $4,995;
02 Dodge Intrepid, very low miles; 04 Saturn 4 dr nice $4,995; 2000 Pontiac Grand Am 4 dr; 99 Mustang LX; 96 Mustang; 03...>MORE
2007 PT CRUISER, 56K MILES
excellent condition. $7,500.00. Call 270-590-4725.
...>MORE
2005 DODGE MAGNUM SXT WITH 73,000 MILES.
White ext., gray leather int., automatic, 6 cylinder, 3.5L engine. Asking $10,900. Call 270-202-2346.
...>MORE
2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING,
black, leather bags, $7,000. Call 270-678-9502....>MORE
1999 DODGE WORK VAN, LWB, V8, AUTO,
a/c, pb, ps, cruise 110k mi. $2,700 OBO Call 270-646-8440...>MORE
1990 CHEVY SPORT TRUCK
350, black, automatic, air conditioned, power windows, alloy wheels. $3,500. 651-3906.
...>MORE
1997 GEO TRACKER, 2 DR. AUTO, 2 WD., 4 CYL. GAS
no a/c manual steering, great gass mileage, $2,200. Call 646-8122....>MORE
1997 CHRYSLER LHS, 4 DOOR, AUTO,
loaded, leather, sunroof, 84K actual miles. $3,400. OBO. Call 646-5017.
...>MORE
LOOKING FOR A GREAT AUTO DEAL?.....
Looking to buy or sell? Check here for the Premium Auto Section. You can post an ad with unlimited text and ...>MORE
See all ads |
|
2 BDR, 1 BATH W/GARGE.$475/MO. $400 DEP.
ll appl. furnished.Service animals only. 270-404-1953...>MORE
3 BR, BRICK HOUSE W/BASEMENT IN HAYWOOD AREA.
First time home buyers, take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit before it ends! Call Freddie Joe, at Mr. Bill Realty 270...>MORE
REMODELED 3 BEDROOM HOME IN GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
Priced in the $80’s Contact ReMax Highland Realty agent, Jo Ann Lynn, 270-670-3496 or email joannlynn@glasgow-ky.com...>MORE
2 BR, 1 BA HOUSE IN GLASGOW,
$390 mo. $300 dep. Service animals only. Call 563-3662 or 270-799-6666.
...>MORE
2 BR MOBILE HOME.
$360 mo. + dep. & utilities. In small mobile home park. 202-9148 or 529-9148. Leave message....>MORE
1 BR APARTMENT W/4 APPLIANCES.
Rent @ $125 wk., or $500 mo. w/all utilities + dep. 103 Milton. Call 710-1377.
...>MORE
NICE 1 1/2 STORY HOUSE IN THE COUNTRY.
C/H/A, WD hookup, blacktop drive & road. $450 mo. + $450 deposit. 16 miles from Glasgow, 4 miles from Edmonton. 432-2592...>MORE
GREAT HOUSE IN THE CITY LIMITS,
completely remodeled, 1.5 story,3000 +/- sq. ft. 4 bed, 2 bath, 1.56 -/+ Ac. Lots of updates. Hardwood, tile, 10 ft. cei...>MORE
2 HOMES FOR RENT: 118 Celtic Circle,
3 BR, 2 BA garage, full bsmt, $700/mo. Also, 113 Childress, 3 BR, 1 BA, garage, $650/mo. Call 270-659-0059 anytime....>MORE
ONE ROOM GARAGE APARTMENT.
Country setting, electric, water & trash included. $400 mo. + $400 dep. 678-4503, leave message....>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|