Beshear adds to session call; says no to Williams’ plan to improve purses
Gov. Steve Beshear
Beshear on Friday added the issue to the agenda of a special legislative session slated to start June 15, along with a proposal to create an authority that could fund the Ohio River bridges project in Jefferson County, possibly with tolls.
The Democratic governor also stood firm on his decision to ask lawmakers to approve a proposal that would allow slots at racetracks, saying he would not amend his call to include a proposal by Senate President David Williams to improve purses at racetracks without expanded gambling.
Williams, R-Burkesville, later said he hopes the governor reconsiders.
Williams also appeared to pick up some support from House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg.
Stumbo released a statement saying Williams’ proposal “contains many recommendations that have been offered by the horse industry in the past and should be part of the debate. I am glad to see there appears to be full agreement that help is needed for the horse industry.”
Williams’ plan would generate about $83 million a year for the horse industry by putting a 10 percent surcharge on lottery tickets, dedicating various taxes and fees for the industry’s use and levying a 1.5 percent tax on out-of-state wagering.
Beshear said he had concerns about Williams’ package, particularly the contention by the lottery that its sales would decline with a 10 percent surcharge.
Williams said he found it hard to depend on what Lottery President Arch Gleason says and produced a review by the Legislative Research Commission’s chief economist that said sales of lottery tickets do respond to price changes, but the magnitude of the response is difficult to measure.
Calls to the lottery’s Louisville office were not returned Friday.
Beshear said he appreciates Williams’ proposal but it has “a lot of moving parts” and is “quite complex.”
He said he prefers that the legislature vote up or down on his plan to allow video lottery terminals at the tracks.
Beshear said he has completed his call for a special session and only would add to it at the request of legislative leaders.
Only the governor can call a special session and set its agenda. The length of the session is determined by the legislature.
Asked if the Senate would consider Beshear’s slots legislation if Williams’ plan is not on the call, Williams said it’s a moot point because he doesn’t think the Democratic-controlled House will ever pass the governor’s plan.
If it does, he said, it would get a “fair” hearing in the Senate, but he sees no sentiment for the measure in his chamber.
The president added that he has advised senators who talk to lobbyists about expanded gambling to have a staff member or witness present. He voiced concern about possible corruption.
Beshear’s agenda will include a plan to deal with a $1 billion shortfall in the state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, slots at the tracks, an economic incentives package and the mega-transportation projects.
He has not yet presented any specific legislation on the issues, and is expected to present his expanded gambling plan early next week.
Williams expressed frustration that the session is to begin soon and the governor has not yet produced any bills on the issues.
“I told him this would be a full agenda for a regular session,” the Senate leader said, adding that he sees no need for a special session and has told the governor that the legislature will pay for five days’ cost of the special session but the state’s General Fund would have to pick up the cost for additional days.
A special session costs taxpayers about $50,000 a day.
Beshear said his economic incentive package would create a tax credit program for small businesses, expand a tax exemption already in place to improve the state’s chances of hosting future Breeders’ Cup World Championships and approve a resolution needed to prepare for a proposed advanced battery manufacturing plant in Hardin County.
It would mirror a package considered in this year’s regular legislative session to help lure a NASCAR Sprint Cup race to the 72,000-seat Kentucky Speedway near Sparta.
The package would have allowed Speedway Motorsports Inc., which owns the track, to recover up to one-fourth of its $75 million expansion over 20 years through sales tax revenues collected at the track.
The measure stalled earlier this year over debate about requiring Kentucky workers on the Speedway renovations. Beshear said Friday he is reviewing that issue.
Concerning a funding mechanism for mega transportation projects, Beshear said it would involve bridge projects between Kentucky and Indiana.
Jefferson County’s $4.1 billion bridges projects — two new bridges over the Ohio River and a redesigned Spaghetti Junction near downtown — have been hampered over debate on how to pay for the state’s $2.8 billion share.
House Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark, D-Louisville, said he is glad Beshear put the issue on the agenda and believes lawmakers will come up with “a good product.”
–Jack Brammer
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Clay | Jun 5, 2009 | Reply
You state employees got lucky, better bring back Dirty Ernie before it is too late.
state employee | Jun 5, 2009 | Reply
State employees are not “lucky”. We are overworked and underpaid. Made to do more and more with less and less. Gone are the days where we would get annual 5% raises. Now we are lucky to get an annual 1% raise. Now we are forfeiting 3 paid holidays (same thing as being furloughed). These are hard times for everyone, but if you don’t treat your state employees better, you will get lousy performance.
mmiball | Jun 5, 2009 | Reply
Cut the Legislators salaries in half, cut their staffs and vote them ALL out.
K Stagg | Jun 5, 2009 | Reply
Pssssst, Governor, it ain’t the 80s anymore. Republicans matter in Frankfort, now. Good move.
Rodney | Jun 5, 2009 | Reply
Overworked and underpaid???? Whats white and sleeps three? Answer: A Ky state highway pickup truck.
Jack | Jun 5, 2009 | Reply
Why would anyone in the position of a governor want to include the funding to build bridges costing millions of dollars when the state already has a deficit. One way to not have to find additional means of revenue is to cancel all pork barrel construction projects in the state until there is enough revenue to re-start them. Also eliminate all the freebies given to people who don’t want to work. As far as the state employees are concerned, they chose to be public servants, not private sector competitors. They can still choose the private sector if they wish. When I see three vehicles, six employees, one lawn mower at a walking track to be mowed which is no bigger than my lawn, maybe state and county employees could be paid more if they would eliminate the deadbeats who stand and watch.
jake | Jun 5, 2009 | Reply
State employee…You get a guaranteed retirement check after 27 years of employment. You get your insurance paid for life. If you have it so bad, go to the private sector.
Fed up | Jun 5, 2009 | Reply
Jake… The retirement is a trade for making 1/3 less than comparable jobs in the private sector. We do not get our insurance paid for life. A family plan costs several hundred dollars per month and has higher co-pays and co-insurance than most plans found in the private sector. The myth that we get these great benefits has gotten farther from the truth over the last decade of cuts that we have endured. The 1% raise we get is less than the rate of inflation. That means we take a pay cut every year on top of added duties to make up for the unfilled positions every year.
Rodney… those old jokes about highway workers are just that, old. If you see a state employee sleeping in his truck, by all means call him in. Thats why those numbers are back there. My guess is you don’t see that. Its easy to pick on state employees because we can’t do much to fight back.
Steve | Jun 5, 2009 | Reply
An industry as specialized and unpredictable as \”horse racing\”, i.e. \”gambling\” should not be subsidized by our hard earned tax dollars. Horse racing needs to save itself or go the way of the dinosaurs. No point keeping a skeleton on life support indefinitely. The commonwealth would be better served by supporting industries that actually make money….like energy. If Obama gets his cap and trade system enacted though we can kiss that goodbye along with our tax dollars. Go to junkscience.com for all the latest on what the green elite have in store for us.
DWB | Jun 5, 2009 | Reply
It is ridiculous to cut the state budget and furlough state employees, but somehow find the money to fund a stupid Nascar race. I really wonder about the priorities of our governor and legislature!
Pappy | Jun 5, 2009 | Reply
One timer Governor, I bet you on that Governor, count on it and YOU WILL NOT GET SLOT’S OR ANY OTHER GAMBLING AS LONG AS THE CHRISTIANS HAVE ANY THING TO SAY ABOUT IT, COUNTO ON IT. I can’t wait till your gone squeaky voice.
voter | Jun 5, 2009 | Reply
state employee: if you hate your job so bad, why don’t you get a real private sector job where you wonder every day if it will be there tomorrow and where you have to retire after 47 years of service instead of 27 without any insurance. i gurantee you will back on your hands and knees begging the local democrat political boss for your old job back! people despise the state employees more than the politicians. we can live without state employees.
fyrefighter 273 | Jun 5, 2009 | Reply
voter, you can live without state employees, do you have what it takes to go into the prison in West Liberty and by surrounded by 144 inmates and be locked in with them, unarmed, hell no you wouldnt. Do you have what it takes to be called to a domestic violence crime scene where the angry husband has beat his wife senseless and your only backup is two counties over? I doubt it! I know you fear what I fight. Sometimes you need to think about what you say because some of us know how easy it is to talk trash and how some of us walk the walk! Voter go hide behind the state employees you don’t need, don’t call the state police when you are scared, keep a criminal in your house. You are so narrow minded you would cut off our soldiers pay as well!
Weatherman | Jun 5, 2009 | Reply
Merit employees deserve merit raises, not automatic raises.
jim | Jun 6, 2009 | Reply
yes the days of the 5% is gone and its the usual reasons not enough money if the special session is 50,000 a day why don’t the elected officials DONATE the time they are up their in frankfort i have my opinion of the way they have done the state workers and its lower than whale sh*t(and thats at the bottom of the ocean) when they get out plowing snow at the early hours of the morning what thanks do they get they are taxed to death so the ones we elect can make it to work on time if they decide to stay home they still get paid now on to the ones that does the dirty work flagging traffic don’t say its easy till you try it to hot in the summer time and to cold in the winter. go get dead animals thats been dead for at least 3 or four days and puke your breakfast or lunch up yes that a good job ain’t it and as for sleeping in a state truck no i don’t. but for the ones bitching about what they do just think of the song BEFORE YOU ABUSE AND ACCUSE WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES!!!!!