Battle over gambling continues after debate ends

By Ronnie Ellis

The post-mortem analyses of the bill to allow slots at horse tracks was underway Tuesday morning, the day after the measure died in a Senate budget committee – and most of the fingers were pointed at Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville.

The bill was to provide revenues, increase purses and boost breeders’ incentives for the horse industry was supported by Gov. Steve Beshear and House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg. Stumbo changed the bill to utilize state revenues to undergo a major school renovation program, but all the schools were in districts represented by House members who voted for the bill.

The House passed the bill 52-45 but it died in the Senate budget committee Monday. Williams opposes the idea and had proposed an alternative to tax lottery ticket sales, out of state betting and various other sources of funding to boost purses and incentives, but the House refuses to take up that measure. So, for the special session, both bills are effectively dead.

On Tuesday Williams was the target of criticism on Louisville sports and news talk shows, and Stumbo was on top of it, saying the Senate will regret not at least allowing a floor vote on his bill.

“People expected us to vote on this issue – they expected the Senate to vote on it,” Stumbo said. “I think the Senate’s going to receive a lot of criticism for not allowing that vote to take place on the Senate floor.”

Williams said those criticizing his stance on gambling as a remedy for racing’s ill don’t know “we offered a real solution to the problem.” He maintains his proposal provides bigger purses and maintains horse racing in Kentucky “as it was meant to be.”

Stumbo said the slots legislation “isn’t going anywhere unless there’s a change over there” in the Senate makeup. Williams had a succinct reply.

“Changes could be made in both chambers,” he said.

Stumbo also said he wouldn’t support a constitutional amendment to allow expanded gambling. Stumbo, while serving as attorney general from 2003 to 2007 issued an opinion that such an amendment is not required. His successor, present AG Jack Conway, issued a similar opinion last week, although some previous AGs have opined that an amendment is required.

Beshear wouldn’t say if he’d consider proposing an amendment down the road – something he campaigned on in 2007 when he called for casinos rather than just electronic slots at the tracks.

“You know, we’ll look at all those options. That is obviously one of them,” said Beshear Tuesday after meeting with the House Democrats behind closed doors. “Whether that is a viable option or not, I don’t know yet.”

Beshear said it’s too early to say what’s next for gambling, but he insisted there’s “no question” the horse industry is in trouble.

But horse industry supporters of expanded gambling sent out an e-mail Tuesday inviting people to a rally Wednesday night at Keeneland Sales Pavilion and said both Beshear and Stumbo would attend. Beshear’s Chief of Staff Adam Edelen confirmed Beshear planned to attend the rally.

“Despite a disappointing vote by the Senate A&R; Committee, PLEASE note that we are NOT done fighting,” read the first line of the e-mail.

Stumbo hinted the Senate’s failure to give the bill a hearing and vote on the floor might be used in the 2010 elections.

“If I were running campaigns against those Senators who voted not to allow that to happen, I believe I’d use it in the next election,” said Stumbo. Beshear —who got cross ways with Williams when he first came into office by saying he wanted to regain control of the Senate for Democrats, wouldn’t go as far as Stumbo Tuesday.

“Oh I haven’t made any decisions like that,” Beshear said when asked if he’d campaign against Republican senators who oppose gambling. He said he understood some lawmakers voted their conviction when they voted against the bill.

Beshear also said he has no “present plans” to call another special session to deal with the issue.





“After the session is over, we’ll sort of sit down and look at all the options and try to figure out where we go from here,” Beshear said. “All I know is we’ve got an industry in trouble and I hope we can find some way to address that.”

RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com.

Text Only