FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Though the chips may be down, Gov. Steve Beshear is
refusing to give up on his proposal to legalize casinos in Kentucky.
The Democratic governor, flanked by about 20 House lawmakers, declared
Monday that the casino proposal still is in play.
"It's still an uphill battle," Beshear said. "I don't think there's any
question about that, but it's a battle that we need to fight, and we need it
fight it right now."
Antigambling advocates said they were surprised that Beshear still is
pressing the divisive issue with only eight working days remaining in the
legislative session.
"The last I knew, you don't get a dead horse to move by beating on it," said
the Rev. Nancy Jo Kemper, head of the Kentucky Council of Churches. "It's not
going to get up and trot to the finish line."
Beshear said casinos could help stave off a projected $900 million financial
shortfall and severe cuts in government services. Allowing casinos to open, then
taxing them, could generate some $600 million in sorely needed state revenue,"
he said.
"I think it's very clear that Kentucky can certainly use a substantial
amount of recurring revenue of some sort," Beshear said.
Although Kentucky has a long tradition of wagering at horse tracks, the
state constitution specifically forbids casinos. Beshear wants lawmakers to
approve a constitutional amendment. If they do, Kentucky voters would get to
ratify or reject the amendment in a ballot referendum.
Executives with Turfway Park, a racetrack co-owned by Harrah's Entertainment
Inc. in the Cincinnati suburbs of northern Kentucky, said earlier this year the
company planned to add a casino, restaurants and nightclubs to that site if
gambling were approved. Other horse tracks in the state are: Churchill Downs,
Ellis Park, Keeneland, Kentucky Downs, Players Bluegrass Downs, The Red Mile and
Thunder Ridge.
Dave Adkisson, head of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, urged lawmakers to
approve the casino proposal. He said Kentucky residents already are spending
more than $1 billion a year at casinos in neighboring states.
"It just doesn't make sense that we would be sending our dollars, and our
citizens with their recreation dollars, across the border,' Adkisson said.
John-Mark Hack, head of the antigambling group Say No To Casinos, said the
proposal still doesn't have enough support in the House or Senate to pass.
"The governor and House leadership are acting like compulsive gamblers who
just can't quit losing," Hack said.
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