Legislators react to slot proposal

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June 5, 2009

By RONNIE ELLIS The Glasgow Daily Times Fri Jun 05, 2009, 12:27 PM CDT

FRANKFORT — Capitol hallways have long featured debates about whether expanded gambling could pass the legislature. When Gov. Steve Beshear added the issue to the agenda of the special session which begins June 15, the debates heated up Thursday.

“I think it’ll have better than a 50-50 shot in the House because it’s become evident the horse industry is having a particularly difficult time,” said Rep. Harry Moberly, D-Richmond.

“I’m generally in favor of it,” Moberly said, “but I want to see the bill.”

House Minority Leader Jeff Hoover, R-Jamestown, opposes expanded gambling but he thinks it can pass the House with the support of the governor and Democratic Speaker Greg Stumbo, who sponsored similar legislation this spring.

He said as many as eight to 10 Republicans might support the bill, the same estimate given by Rep. Bob DeWeese, R-Louisville, the Republican Caucus Chairman. DeWeese supports the idea.

But even if it passes the House, Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, opposes the measure and has said there aren’t sufficient votes for it to pass that chamber.

Hoover said Beshear told him by phone Thursday “we’d never know until he put it out there and tried to get it passed.”

Moberly thinks it can pass the Senate too – if Williams doesn’t kill it, something Williams has said he won’t do.

“From what I hear, I think the vote may be there in the Senate,” Moberly said. “It’s just whether President Williams will allow a vote on it.”

Republican Sen. Brandon Smith of Hazard said he can’t support the measure. Smith won a hotly contested special election for his southeastern Kentucky seat and gambling was a major issue in the race.

But Smith said he wants to help the horse industry and so do a lot of his constituents and he said he “will go in with an open mind.” He spoke of using special fees to fund more competitive purses and breeders’ incentives, something Williams proposed later Thursday.

Sen. Denise Harper-Angel, D-Louisville, supports the measure.

“I think it’s something we have to address and we have to do it now to address the problems with the horse industry,” she said. “So, I hope we can pass it.”

She said she thinks a bill similar to that proposed earlier this year by Stumbo can pass the Senate.

Others were non-committal. Rep. Dottie Sims, D-Horse Cave, is waiting to see how her constituents feel.

“I’ve got to get with my people,” Sims said. “The ones that are calling me so far seem to be against it. I haven’t heard as much from those for it.”

Former Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, wouldn’t say if he thought the bill can pass the House or then the Senate.

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

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