FRANKFORT — Republican Sen. Damon Thayer of Georgetown said Wednesday he is “strongly leaning toward sponsoring” Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear’s proposal for a constitutional amendment on expanded gambling.

“I’ll be prepared to move forward pretty soon,” Thayer said. “But I’m not going to put a date on it because I don’t want to be held to any artificial deadline.”

Beshear said in December he wanted to offer an amendment “probably in the first week” of the 2012 General Assembly but almost four weeks into the session none has been offered. Beshear previously said he has encountered more support in the Republican-controlled Senate than he anticipated and he’s working with members to draw an amendment that can pass.

Thayer said again Wednesday he has continued to discuss the amendment with Beshear because he has long supported the idea of an amendment.

“My position hasn’t changed,” Thayer said. “I’m still for a constitutional amendment to let the people decide and I think this is the year to do it.”

Thayer didn’t provide many specifics on what language he has in mind, but he said it might include language about locations of casinos, perhaps including horse tracks.

Beshear later issued a statement saying he and Thayer have agreed on the bill’s language but he also didn’t provide any details.

“Sen. Thayer and I have agreed on language for the bill, which will be introduced in the Senate very soon,” Beshear said. “We will spend the next few days laying the groundwork for its introduction. We are hopeful that our senators will give this bill the full consideration it deserves, since repeated polls show that Kentuckians are demanding an opportunity to vote on this issue.”

Thayer wouldn’t speculate on how many votes the bill might have in the senate where opposition to expanded gambling has been centered in the past.

“I’m not counting votes,” Thayer said. “I’m working on a bill. I’ve asked (Beshear) that it be his responsibility to line up the votes.”

Beshear made expanded gambling the central issue in his 2003 campaign for governor but was unable to get a constitutional amendment to the floor of the Democratic controlled House for a full floor vote. Subsequently, he supported a bill sponsored by House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, and passed by the House to allow electronic slots at horse tracks — without an amendment. That bill died in a Senate committee.

The governor didn’t make gambling a central issue in his 2011 re-election campaign but after he defeated Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, he claimed his 22-point victory over the most outspoken legislative opponent of expanded gambling represents a mandate.

Stumbo has said any such amendment must originate in the Senate because, he says, the House has already acted on a gambling measure only to see it die in the Senate. He didn’t respond to Thayer’s comments Wednesday.

“It would be hard to react to something you haven’t seen,” Stumbo said.

Williams declined Wednesday to comment on the matter. But Thayer said Williams has said previously — both publicly and privately to Thayer — that he would not “stand in the way” of a floor vote on a gambling amendment.

RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.