FRANKFORT — When Gov. Steve Beshear, members of the Democratic House Leadership and representatives of teachers’ groups gathered Monday in the Capitol rotunda, they said they would make a final push to pass an expanded gambling amendment — with an eye toward taking a vote in the House on Wednesday.
Not so fast.
House Speaker Jody Rich-ards, D-Bowling Green, said Wednesday those favoring passage of the amendment haven’t given up, but it’s unlikely there will be a vote before Friday.
Asked how many solid votes the measure might have in the House and when a vote might take place, Richards laughed.
“Well ... ,” he began, “I’ve been a little bit busy doing other things.” Other things, of course, means trying to work out differences between the Senate and House versions of a two-year state budget and passage of pension reform and ethics reform legislation.
Beshear, who made ex-panded gambling a key issue in his campaign for governor, seemed to hint even he realizes there is almost no time left to pass the measure in the House.
“We’re going to be touching base with the House leadership (Wednesday) afternoon or tomorrow to see if we need to do something more or say it’s time to stop,” Beshear said.
There are only six days left in the 60-day session and leaders of both the Senate and House are determined to reserve at least two of those to consider overriding any vetoes of legislation by Be-shear. So that leaves only four days to get the amendment through the House and Senate by the required 60 percent margin — 60 votes in the House and 23 in the Senate.
Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, has said throughout the session the measure can’t pass in the Senate and has taken delight in pointing out that it doesn’t appear to have support in the Democratically controlled House either.
On Monday, Beshear and amendment supporters, in-cluding Richards, said the measure had around 50 votes, but others say it’s short of the 50 mark.
“I think it’s going down,” said House Minority Leader Jeff Hoover, R-Jamestown, when asked how many votes the measure might have. Hoover is opposed to the measure.
Richards said he hasn’t given up on passing a casino gambling amendment.
“Well, we’re still working on it,” he said Wednesday. But when asked if he’d call the measure for a vote on Wed-nesday as supporters had hoped Monday when they gathered in the rotunda, Richards replied: “Not today.”
Thursday?
“I doubt it,” Richards said. “By the end of the week.”
Which may mark the end of casino gambling — at least for this session.
Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com.
Local News
House may fold soon on gambling amendment
- Local News
-
-
Ambulance board OKs outsource billing
After a thorough discussion during Wednesday’s board meeting, the Barren-Metcalfe Emergency Medical Services decided to outsource its billing to AMB-MARS (Medical Accounts Receivable Systems doing business as AMBulance Medical Billing), contingent on AMB-MARS adding a guarantee clause on its work.
-
Teen named local youth of the year
Rayne Triplett has been practicing the speech she will give at the end of the month when she travels to Frankfort to compete for the Boys and Girls Club’s 2012 State Youth of the Year title.
-
Howard lauded for G/T work
Glasgow Superintendent Sean Howard was presented the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education’s Michael Caudill Educator Award on Monday at the annual KAGE conference in Lexington.
-
Teens to be tried as adults
Barren Circuit Court released the names of two juveniles charged in an armed robbery in October, after the court decided to try the teens as youthful offenders in adult circuit court.
-
Payne pleads guilty to lesser charge
A Glasgow man who had been facing a felony charge of custodial interference pleaded guilty Tuesday in Barren Circuit Court to a lesser charge.
-
Rowland will take Comer's seat for now
A Monroe County businessman will fill the unexpired term of former state representative Jamie Comer, according to the results of Tuesday’s special election.
-
County struggles to provide EPA report
Barren County Road Department Head Johnny Kinslow called his bi-monthly report to the fiscal court his “gloom and doom” report Tuesday night. After five years of letters and discussions, the Environmental Protection Agency has informed Kinslow that he must produce a closure report for underground fuel tanks that were removed 13 years ago, or face unnamed consequences.
- MORNING UPDATE: Two juveniles charged as adults in robbery
- MORNING UPDATE: Tebben blogs from New York
-
Chamber names Travis ‘Outstanding Citizen’
Winning the Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award Monday night came as a complete surprise to Dr. Bill Travis.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Ambulance board OKs outsource billing
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
