Baptist ministers make it clear they don’t like Stumbo’s slots bill
By Janet Patton - jpatton1@herald-leader.com
State Rep. Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg
Baptist ministers in Eastern Kentucky say they don’t know who House Speaker Greg Stumbo has been talking to about his gambling bill, but they have a message for him: they don’t like it.
A group representing 26 churches primarily in Floyd, Magoffin, Martin and Johnson counties unanimously approved a resolution Monday night opposing Stumbo’s legislation to allow Kentucky racetracks to install electronic slot machines known as video lottery terminals.
The resolution, passed by the Enterprise Association of Southern Baptist Churches, said the bill “encourages a get-rich-quick mentality that undermines the work ethic and will ultimately cost our economy far more than it will ever produce.”
The group of churches includes two that Stumbo, a Democrat from Prestonsburg, sometimes attends.
In a statement on Tuesday to the Herald-Leader, Stumbo said: “I never did seek, nor did I expect, church leaders to support any form of gaming, and I fully understand their resolution stating that belief. Those I spoke to in confidence made it clear they felt that way as well, but indicated their opposition would not be any stronger should my legislation pass. I certainly understand and respect their views.”
The ministers were prompted to take action by comments Stumbo made at a hearing last month in Frankfort about the proposal.
“I’m a Southern Baptist, and I’m kind of proud of that. We’re not known for our liberal ideas; as a matter of fact, we’re in most circles considered to be pretty conservative. But I have spoken with members of my church, including pastors in various churches in my community, and we’ve talked about this bill,” Stumbo told the House Licensing and Occupations Committee on Jan. 21. “What I hear my preachers saying in my communities (is) that, ‘well, you know, we can’t really be for more gambling but this isn’t really an expansion of gambling as such because there are already people at these facilities that are engaged in that process.’”
“I was terribly disappointed by it and I didn’t think it was a very honest statement,” said the Rev. Randy Osborne, pastor of Garrett First Baptist Church in Floyd County. “I think he’s trying to soften the argument down, to say if pastors and churches are not against it that it might not be too bad.”
Osborne’s message to the General Assembly: “We don’t want this. We’re just in total opposition to this.”
Stumbo argued that since the slot machines would be controlled by the state lottery board, they would not entail new gambling.
“We’re not talking about expanding gaming beyond where gaming is already taking place,” Stumbo told the legislative committee.
“Because to me it’s no different than if the lottery chooses to put a new game out. … It’s not really an expansion of gaming, it’s just a new form of gaming.”
But the ministers in the group don’t see it that way.
“It is a form of expanded gambling,” said the Rev. Jerry Workman, pastor of the Prestonsburg First Baptist Church, where Stumbo sometimes attends. Workman said he has not spoken to Stumbo about the bill.
“We want to make that known to everyone that as Southern Baptist ministers we do have a problem with it,” Workman said. “We’re not in favor of it in any way. We do feel strongly about it.”
The Rev. Tom Biddle, director of missions for the Enterprise Association that passed the resolution, pointed out that the ministers oppose the lottery itself, as well as the racetrack proposal, which Stumbo said in five years could generate about $340 million annually in tax revenue for the state.
“The resounding thing (Monday) night was that yes, we are very much opposed to this,” Biddle said. He said their objections are partly biblical but partly economic.
“The money it would take to be gambled for the state to make the revenue that they claim it’s going to make is tremendous,” Biddle said, “And the families who will be doing that are families that could not afford to be losing money at that rate.”
One longtime opponent of expanded gambling was glad to see the Baptist ministers make their position clear.
“I thought at the time ‘What a load of baloney,’” said the Rev. Nancy Jo Kemper, executive director of the Kentucky Council of Churches, of Stumbo’s comments about the lack of church opposition. “That was a statement devised to deflect the kinds of important moral considerations that should go on as the legislature considers any piece of legislation. All legislation has moral issues attached to it. … Does this kind of economic activity really promote the good of Kentuckians?”
About the Author: John Stamper is the government and education editor for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Monticello, Ky., he has been with the Herald-Leader in a variety of roles since graduating from Western Kentucky University in 2000. Reach him at jstamper@herald-leader.com
Kentucky Anne | Feb 3, 2009 | Reply
With all due respect to the ministers, what do they think goes on at these racetracks? What is the difference between betting on a horse and putting coins in a slot machine???
Brian | Feb 3, 2009 | Reply
Why not receive revenues from slots? I live here in Florida; the American Indian tribes make fortunes from the casinos. I am a native Kentuckian…….do the baptist ministers bring tax revenue to the State? Of course not. Kentucky should allow slots or casino gambling to bring in lost revenues. Follow the lead from other states..like Mississippi, Illinois, ect.
Get with the program Kentucky, don’t lose out to an ignorant minority.
jim9289 | Feb 3, 2009 | Reply
Brian, be nice. There is no need to call names. It only makes you look bad. As a Christian minister, I fail to understand the objection that these ministers have. I agre with your view until you start making insulting remarks.
A monkey can raise taxes | Feb 3, 2009 | Reply
I thought churches stayed out of politics so they could be tax free?
Ken | Feb 3, 2009 | Reply
Is the HL saying these preachers speak for all Baptist preachers? The “leader” sure implies so.
IMHO | Feb 3, 2009 | Reply
“I was terribly disappointed by it and I didn’t think it was a very honest statement,” Greg Stumbo and not an honest statement. Go figure.
Bill Adkins | Feb 3, 2009 | Reply
ok - which one of you is whitesburg?
Bleu | Feb 3, 2009 | Reply
Another day; just one more lie by Stumbo uncovered.
Jim Shahan | Feb 3, 2009 | Reply
I am not surprised that the Baptist ministers are against this as many of them also think the world is only 5,000 years old and we used to play with dinosaurs. I support their stand and am asking them to support mine, which is: let’s tax their properties to help make up the shortfall. After all, isn’t it better to give than receive.
A monkey can raise taxes | Feb 3, 2009 | Reply
Winston Churchill who said, ” You can’t make the poor rich by making the rich poor.”.
Recently I came across another quote that made sense to me. How far can we push the Robin-Hood scheme?
Quote by Adrian Rogers:
“You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that, my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. YOU CANNOT MULTIPLY WEALTH BY DIVIDING IT”
Sonya Webb | Feb 4, 2009 | Reply
I don’t see how churches think they should have a say in this or any other matter. If they want to get into politics, let them give up their tax exempt status. They want everybody else to play by their rules, but they break the law by not respecting the tax laws.
This isn’t a Christian nation. It’s a melting pot of many different beliefs. No single group’s values should held as the standard for the rest of us.
Bleu | Feb 4, 2009 | Reply
Christians aren’t allowed to participate in politics?? What are Sonya and Jim smoking??
Churches only lose their non-profit tax exemption status if behind the pulpit the Preacher tells his congregation to vote for one candidate/party over another.
It was Stumbo’s decision to tell a big fat lie that some southern baptist preacher supported the slots bill. Stumbo just never realized that he would be called out on it. Ask yourselves; if a legislator is willing to pimp out his preachers- What else is he capable of?
Joseph | Feb 4, 2009 | Reply
I am with you Bleu. Stumbo lied about where these ministers stood on the gambling issue. They have every right to express their views on an issue Stumbo “implied” they supported.
Joseph | Feb 4, 2009 | Reply
Gaming /gambling in KY would require that the people LOSE 700 million dollars every year. I don’t think that is very fiscally responsbile by the legislature. All of that money would have been spent elsewehere, for families, businesses etc. Not exactly a stimulus to the economy except for the casino/racetrack owners.
sirimher | Feb 4, 2009 | Reply
One thing about this website is we have all these dems on here trying to pretend they are republicans..even the managers of it.Dont ever be fooled on that one.Blogs are not who you think. May and most times professional bloggers these days.
As to the Baptists against gambling-but Stumbo’s baptist preachers are for it in secret…I doubt that.
We talk about gambling as though it is going to bring in additional money to this state. duh…it comes from somewhere. duh..our people and maybe a million a year from outsiders. If the casinos get our citizens money which it has to to survive, that is money that wont go to other businesses, to families etc. You ready to have it maybe close down your business or your movie theater your kids and you go to? There is only so much money in this state and gambling doesnt bring it in from someplace else..it takes yours and gives it to them. We are not a rich state to begin with;what about 700 or 800 thousand getting food stamps, with KY being ranked 7th in Country on having more homeless people. ?With the medicaid budget so overwhelmed by folks that cant buy insurance and drugs–I say, heck gamble..let em have this State. We were once a great and mighty State. Same leadership for decades and decades. Every dollar they bring in is a dollar the kids wont have, is a dollar that wont be there to pay the bills. It is trying to sell a cure for misery..and we have enough quick fixes for that. We have enough problems..increased alcholoism, increased crime, increased drug abuse,increased spouse abuse, gambling addiction, business closures, increased need for law enforcement all come with gambling..sure that would be good for us!Or are they laughing behind our back saying-good enough for us! You spend you dollar having fun and they take the dollar creating problems to cure your problems or the increased problems surrounding this. They would have us believe gambling is good for us. We cant afford all the programs needed to heal the increased misery it creates. It isnt good for us..and we are too good to have it. Ky doesnt need money for education-remember, our lottery takes care of that. Sure does..I believe Stumbo was on preaching that message too. what did it do..check the salaries paid to those lottery staff and the contractors..Take the increased cig. tax and give that to the horse industry. Designate where that goes! Designate the lottery funds..make it law. Put it under the leadership of those that get the $$ from it and we will see just how well it can be run. Right now..just more of the buddy system. Why doesnt this web site file open records for the contracts and payroll of the lottery?? Lets examine how wonderful that is for us. And think about it..they say lottery sales are up as the economy tanks…what does that tell you about the good people trying to find the fix?
jarbi | Feb 9, 2009 | Reply
Slots is not to help the Ky people is is for Casino owners and Crooked politicians.
People that belong to the Baptist Church works at a regular job and pays Taxes and are citizens so it certainly not anybodies Burnes if they oppose the Gambling Bill. We don’t even have to print new material this comes up every secession.