Williams says Senate may end session Friday without considering slots
Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville
By John Cheves and Beth Musgrave
FRANKFORT — The Republican-led state Senate could end a special legislative session on Friday without considering Gov. Steve Beshear’s proposal to allow slots at racetracks, warned Senate President David Williams.
Such a move might endanger all four of the items Beshear placed on the session’s agenda, including a proposed fix for a nearly $1 billion budget shortfall in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1.
Williams’ alert came hours after the House budget committee approved the measure to allow slots at racetracks in a 19-9 vote, setting up the first floor vote that an expanded gambling bill has gotten since lawmakers began debating the issue more than a decade ago.
Several House Democrats who support the slots bill said it should find the requisite 51 votes needed on the House floor if everyone who privately says they’re for it is willing to step forward in public Friday.
However, Williams, R-Burkesville, said there is not enough support in the Senate to pass the slots bill, so there’s no need to waste taxpayer money — roughly $60,000 a day — extending the special session beyond one week, he said.
“I’m not giving any kind of ultimatum,” Williams said. “I’m giving them an opportunity, an opportunity to accomplish all of their business and leave on the fifth day. … Because the slots bill, you know, you can stick a fork in it, it’s done.”
Beshear has asked the General Assembly to consider four proposals: allowing slots at racetracks, rectifying the budget shortfall, overhauling of the state’s economic development incentive programs and creating an authority to oversee construction of mega-transportation projects.
Williams has proposed attaching the governor’s budget proposal to the mega-transportation project bill, which cleared the House earlier this week.
He would also attach to the economic incentives bill, which has also won approval in the House, his own proposal to help the horse industry expand purses and breeders incentives by taxing lottery tickets.
The House could then approve the amended measures Friday, he said.
“I’m not saying that we’re going to leave here tomorrow,” Williams said. “What I’m saying is is that they’re going to be given an opportunity to address every issue that has been presented to us tomorrow.”
House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, responded that Williams has previously promised to give the slots bill a fair hearing in the Senate.
“We’re working through the legislative process and doing what we think is best for Kentucky, especially for our children and our signature horse industry,” Stumbo said. “We trust the Senate will give these matters fair consideration.”
Williams has blasted the House for earmarking tax money generated from the slots proposal for more than $1.3 billion in proposed school and university projects, calling it “vote-buying.”
“We need to get out of town before some people in the House get in trouble,” Williams said Thursday. When asked to explain, Williams said “you know what I mean by that.”
Several lawmakers who voted for the bill in the House budge committee said they oppose expanded gambling, but they’re excited by the $1.3 billion in proposed school and university projects. Others said they only voted “aye” to finally allow a full House vote.
“The time has come to send this particular bill to the floor,” said Rep. Arnold Simpson, D-Covington, who voted for the slots bill Thursday but said he plans to vote against it Friday. Simpson opposes the bill because it gives a monopoly on slots to racetracks, rather than allowing freestanding casinos to compete.
Bills to authorize slots at Kentucky’s eight horse racetracks have been debated in Frankfort for years, and one of them previously succeeded in a House committee vote. But the sponsors never could round up enough allies to merit a House floor vote.
Originally touted as a way to defend Kentucky’s horse industry from other states’ slots-fattened racetrack purses and breeder incentives, Stumbo’s bill this week found tough opposition in the General Assembly, prompting him to select a new focus: school children.
Stumbo repeated for the House budget committee Thursday his plan to use $143.8 million a year of the state’s tax revenue from slots to pay off $1.3 billion in bonds for school and university projects. Most of the projects have not been identified thus far, but Stumbo says they include replacements for crumbling schools classified as Category 5 schools because they are at least 40 years old.
“We’ll never have this opportunity again to literally build schools all across this state and wipe out some of these awful facilities where we see our children going to school,” Stumbo said.
Under the bill approved Thursday, the racetracks would operate seven slot-machine facilities around the state — in Lexington, Keeneland and the Red Mile would share a facility — with net revenues split between the tracks (about 57 percent for the first five years), the state (about 28 percent for the first five years) and the horse industry (about 15 percent). A ninth racetrack could be opened and issued a slots license as well.
Although the slots facilities eventually must be located on or adjacent to the track properties, for the first two years, while planning and construction is underway, temporary slots facilities could go anywhere in the same county as a track, according to the bill. The bill exempts the newly created “racinos” from local zoning laws.
Slot machines could operate throughout the year regardless of whether horses are running. In fact, the bill authorizes racetracks to request a “temporary reduction” in their live racing once they have slots, with the permission of related thoroughbred or standardbred horsemen’s groups.
The Kentucky Lottery Corp. board of directors would get enormous power to license and regulate the racinos as well as their equipment suppliers and workers.
The Lottery would administer a trust fund that collects the net revenue from all slots and accepts the state’s share, which Stumbo estimated would start at $194 million a year, about $20 million more than Beshear projected in his recent slots proposal.
Williams’ proposal — which Beshear declined to place on the agenda for the special legislative session — includes using other means to increase purses and breeders’ incentives. Williams said there have been some minor changes to that plan, the details of which will likely be revealed at a committee hearing on Friday.
Williams said he has not talked to the House about his proposals.
“I hope it is received well,” Williams said. “It will address every issue that was put on the agenda and we’ll have done it in five days.”
About the Author: John Stamper is the accountability 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
TC | Jun 18, 2009 | Reply
I support full-on casino gambling in Kentucky
hardworker! | Jun 18, 2009 | Reply
It totally has my vote. If people want to gamble there going to gamble. Wheather it’s in Indiana, Ohio, W. Virginia, or Illinios. Why not keep the money in state and use the taxes for a good cause. If they want to give money away gambling, let it stay in ky! Whats the differance, horse racing not gambling. I drive to Indiana to gamble(100 mi). There getting my money! We are just wasting jobs too. It will also help us give money to to lazy A#% people who is milking the system and taking my hard earned taxes!!!! I should be able to decided where my taxes go even if it is to gambling. Better than the guys I work with that make more money than me and I’m paying there house payment with more of my taxes! Cause they know how to milk the SYSTEM !~!!!!!! Why not have gambling.
Kelsey | Jun 18, 2009 | Reply
I am ready to go. Get those machines plugged up and get in line to win some money.
Kelsey.
Dick | Jun 18, 2009 | Reply
Need to include something in the bill to give some of the slots money to state employees. How about some longevity pay or at least a decent cost of living? How come the teachers get everything? They already only work 9 months out of the year.
TheGovernor | Jun 18, 2009 | Reply
The real question is, why does David Williams hate both progress and children?
James | Jun 18, 2009 | Reply
Hope that Williams realizes that he what he calls vote buying is better than the Leonard Lawson buying the GOP votes. Williams needs to quit and run for the US Senate because someone as crazy as Bunning deserves a GOP nominee that is just as crazy.
tim | Jun 18, 2009 | Reply
If people are dumb enough to waste their money on slots, then give them a place in Kentucky to spend it.
jono | Jun 18, 2009 | Reply
I am so sick of the incredible arrogance and prideful oppositional attitude Williams continues to abuse this entire state with.How does one such as he gain such a stranglehold upon us all?? And how is it we cannot seem to rid ourselves of him?? He, like many Republicans, would allow this state, if not this country to crumble before their very eyes, through their prideful oppositional and uncooperative attitudes, while happily BLAMING anyone, and everyone else, for failures predicated by their very own abuse of power!!
Miranda | Jun 18, 2009 | Reply
I’m for slots and against everything Williams represents, especially being a pigheaded egoist.
Michael | Jun 18, 2009 | Reply
Let’s see: Sunday Liquor Sales: Only way to increase convention business in Lexington—DIDN’T HAPPEN.
Lottery– solve education funding problems–DIDN’T HAPPEN.
Slots at tracks (Real motive: open casino gambling)–Will help education which the Lottery failed to do, and will help the general revenue— WON’T HAPPEN.
The people say: “Fool me once…”
Bob | Jun 18, 2009 | Reply
It is astonishing the way Williams acts instantly to protect out of state casinos. It’s as if he is indebted to them.
I talked to more than one horse farm owners yesterday in Frankfort who said if Mitch McConnell didn’t let this go to a vote, he’d gotten the last dollar he’d ever get from them. And they were lifelong Republicans.
If the Senate chooses to kill the horse business, they’re going to held responsible for it.
DWB | Jun 18, 2009 | Reply
It appears that Williams is too stupid to realize that he if leaves town, all Beshear is going to do is immediately call another special session. Williams needs to do his job!
Skee-lo | Jun 18, 2009 | Reply
Please vote David Williams out of office! RIght now. He is a self-serving man, who has lost total touch with his constituents. That’s a tough feat for a state senator, but he has achieved it. VOTE FOR CHANGE!!!!!
laceydog | Jun 18, 2009 | Reply
Williams , they keep electing the p***k, bunch of hill jacks
Ben | Jun 18, 2009 | Reply
What spineless leadership.
daniel | Jun 19, 2009 | Reply
G O O D
Yin-Yang | Jun 19, 2009 | Reply
This is typical Williams leadership style; bullying. He won’t put it to a vote because he’s a bully, plain and simple. Unless there is something in it for him he is not on board for anything in Kentucky…
He’ll fight this, like most of his “religious” fights because he knows it will keep his name in the paper for the Bunning replacement election!!!
Williams is NOT a leader and needs to go!!!
David | Jun 19, 2009 | Reply
Thank goodness someone like Sen Williams is there to kill this senseless, stupid legislation. Rep Stumbo, after being on the public payroll for years all of a sudden says our children are at risk if we dont have slots at racetracks. Where has HE been all of these years? The lottery was supposed to cure all of our educatation woes and it did not. Neither will slots.
Jack | Jun 19, 2009 | Reply
David Williams and his Republican buddies have once again placed the welfare of Kentucky on the back burner. No, there won’t be a racetrack anytime soon in Cumberland County. Apparently Williams wants that to be the case for the entire state. Such arrogance and stupidity!
manonthestreet | Jun 19, 2009 | Reply
Agreed 100%. He seems to be an arrogant, self-serving obstructionist!
Timm Dunn | Jun 19, 2009 | Reply
Note to Mr. Burns, unlike the last time you were in town, Republicans now matter. Maybe that 527 can get a refund.
Bob Caito | Jun 19, 2009 | Reply
Kentucky’s loss will Indiana, Pennsylvania and West Virginia’s gain. Without horses why would any tourists want to go to Kentucky?
Chrissy | Jun 19, 2009 | Reply
I applaud David Williams for having the courage to say enough is enough. All this money wasting special session is about is gambling. They put slots ahead of the budget….that just shows you the priorities of Scumbo & the Dems. I am a Republican and I support full on Gambling here in Kentucky if these 2 conditions are met: 1. It is for stand alone Casinos and not only at the Race Tracks. 2.It is put on a ballot for ALL KENTUCKIANS TO VOTE either a straight YES or NO vote on Casino gambling. I don’t think we need to keep wasting money everyday on a Special Session just arguing, the State is broke, remember?
Shawn | Jun 19, 2009 | Reply
I’m Republican, but David Williams needs to go away and stop holding KY hostage with his backward policies
Kelsey Here | Jun 19, 2009 | Reply
Shawn’s right. Republicans have held Kentucky back for years. It’s time for Democrats to run Kentucky for once.
Chris | Jun 19, 2009 | Reply
I seem to recall when people were wanting Casinos several years back the Race Tracks and the Horse Industry was dead set against it. Why, you may ask. It was because they felt it would take away from the Horse racing experience. Now your so called \”signature industry\” is going to die a vatural death you suddenly become all for it, but only at the tracks.
I and all of my friends say \”No way, Jose!\”
irabird | Jun 19, 2009 | Reply
The ‘Bully of Burkesville’ strikes again!
Freespirit | Jun 19, 2009 | Reply
I’m amazed – Kentucky has this guy Williams in the Senate and Illinois has Madigan in the House. Both have egos that are way too big, and both are ruining their state. How do guys like this get such power?
Sorry, Kentucky, it’s amazing what one man can do to one state.
zed | Jun 19, 2009 | Reply
We are packing up the moving van and getting ready to move our operations to Pennsylvania. Simple matter of economics. We make more money having our horses run in PA. So we’ll take our 157k per year payroll of 5 full time employees, (who will all wind up on KY’s employment security dole, and head to a state where the industry is wanted and supported. Hope you all enjoy the loss of your signature business. Get out that bible and pray, especially if you live in Lexington. You just canned 44,000 jobs.
Jim Anderson Stivers | Jun 19, 2009 | Reply
I do not see in any way this is a religious issue. And Zed, your plea, well . . .a person needs to go to the market where he can make the most money.
In case you didn’t see it, Kentucky has around one third of the Thorougbred Breeding in the world.
D. Verret | Jun 20, 2009 | Reply
Not for long, Jim…not for long.