ASHLAND —
A major reason why efforts to expand gambling have fared so poorly in the Kentucky General Assembly is pro-gambling forces have never been able to agree on just what types of gambling should be allowed in Kentucky and where gambling should be permitted. Meanwhile, anti-gambling forces have been united in their opposition to new forms of wagering.
That problem continues, said Gov. Steve Beshear, and as long as those seeking to expand gambling remain divided, the odds of the 2013 General Assembly approving the placement of a state constitutional amendment to expand gambling on the 2014 ballot remain extremely long.
As legislators gathered in Frankfort for the remainder of the 2013 General Assembly, Beshear told reporters Kentucky’s horse racing industry continues to be divided on how to proceed in its efforts to expand gambling.
The horse racing industry and its lobbying arm — the Kentucky Equine Educational Project, or KEEP — has spent millions of dollars in recent years in its efforts to convince legislators to allow new types of gambling in the state. Despite Beshear making expanded gambling a key part of his successful 2007 campaign that unseated Gov. Ernie Fletcher and his landslide re-election in 2011, the governor has failed to convince legislators to place a gambling amendment on the ballot. He’s likely to fail again in 2013 despite the departure of former Senate President David Williams.
Beshear insists Kentucky is losing hundreds of millions of dollars a year to neighboring states that already have casinos. He said Kentucky needs to legalize casinos so that money can be kept in the state to generate cash for Kentucky’s signature horse industry and to bolster government revenue.
“I think it’s also become clear from our prior experience that the language that has the best chance of success in the General Assembly is what we would call a clean amendment, one that authorizes expanded gaming, perhaps limits it to a certain number of locations, but does not guarantee racetracks a monopoly on casinos,” Beshear said Tuesday. “I am finding that that type of language in an amendment has more support than the prior efforts we’ve made. And I’m encouraged by that. However, several of the racetracks outside of Louisville are opposing such an amendment on the grounds that it doesn’t give them a guarantee of a casino or mileage protection from any kind of competition.”
In the past, KEEP has insisted a constitutional amendment that would limit casinos to racetracks where gambling already exists is the only one that can be approved by voters. However, legislators have been reluctant to promote a constitutional amendment that would only benefit racetracks.
Beshear indicated Tuesday that some in the racing industry continue to insist casinos be limited to existing tracks, and that insistence is harming the chances of an amendment being placed on the ballot. The governor said three tracks — Keeneland, the Red Mile and Kentucky Downs — are leading the opposition to his latest proposal that would not limit casinos to tracks.
“I feel that if those tracks were on board we would have the votes in the Senate now to pass that type of amendment,” the governor said. “So we’re still in conversation with senators and we’re still in conversation with the racetracks, but I can’t predict at the moment whether any bill will be filed or what action may happen during this session.”
Don’t expect any action on expanded gambling in 2013. Legislators have far more important issues such as pension reform and tax reform to deal with. Expanded gambling can wait until the 2014 session. After all, a constitutional amendment can’t be placed on the ballot until next year. Instead of pushing for action on expanded gambling during this session, Beshear and key legislators should work to get those who support expanded gambling to agree on a single proposal. Without that, they will never convince legislators to place a pro-gambling amendment on the ballot.
Editorials
Still divided
Lack of unity continues to hamper pro-gambling efforts
- Editorials
-
-
It's the law
On Jan. 22, Greenup County voters — or at least those who took time to cast ballots in the special referendum — rejected a proposal that would have allowed the legal sale of alcohol in the county by a rather convincing margin of 4,872-3,830.
-
Retiring
As members of the Ashland Board of City Commissioners look for a replacement for retiring City Manager Stephen W. Corbitt, they should seek someone just like Corbitt.
-
On the increase
It’s certainly good news that a new report by Kentucky’s Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet has found the economic impact of tourism grew by 5.2 percent in eastern Kentucky in 2012, outpacing the overall statewide growth rate. However, we would be more excited bout the report if we had more confidence in how tourism spending is calculated by state government.
-
After the crash
Like thousands of other Kentuckians, we remember well May 14, 1988, when a drunken driver traveling the wrong way on Interstate 71 near Carrollton struck a church bus returning home to Radcliff after day at King’s Island, causing one of he most deadly vehicle accidents in this nation’s history. The horrific crash killed 27, many of them teenagers, and injured 34 others.
-
High price tage
Much has been said and written about the rapid and dramatic decline of air passenger service at the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport. Much less has been said and written about the tremendous economic impact the loss of air service has had on the entire region.
-
Return of pencils
It is a question asked by all of us whose lives and jobs are dependent on computers with email and Internet access, fax machines, cellphones and other other electronic essentials of this modern age: What do you do when the electronic devices fail?
-
Banned
If you live in Boyd and Lawrence counties and are thinking of burning trash, wood, leaves or other debris outdoors, here’s a word of advice: Don’t even think about lighting that match. If you do, it could cost you dearly.
-
Few citations
When the 2011 Kentucky General Assembly approved a bill banning texting while driving and cellphone use for drivers younger than 18, there was widespread public support for both restrictions.
-
Booming times
Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergran Grimes has launched a statewide tour to gauge public support for allowing more voters to cast their ballots before Election Day. While other states have enacted laws to allow early voting, the biggest obstacle to the proposal in Kentucky is the state’s history of widespread voter fraud.
-
Step backward
We agree with Larry Brown, the lone member of the Ashland Board of City Commissioners to oppose a motion requesting City Attorney Richard “Sonny” Martin to draft an ordinance changing the time for all commission meetings to noon
- More Editorials Headlines
-
It's the law
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
