Beshear urges strong finish to session; says he initially disagreed with slots earmarks

June 23, 2009 | Jack Brammer | Comments 16

Gov. Steve Beshear

FRANKFORT – Gov. Steve Beshear urged House Democrats Tuesday to “finish the work” of his special legislative session and approve three remaining issues he said of are “vital importance.”

Beshear, a day after his push for a bill to allow video lottery terminals at racetracks to help the horse industry failed in a Senate committee, spoke for about 15 minutes behind closed doors to the House Democratic caucus. He then talked briefly to reporters.

The Democratic governor acknowledged to reporters that he initially did not agree with House Speaker Greg Stumbo’s plan to earmark revenue from the slots bill on more than $1 billion school construction projects.

“I felt that a clean bill without any earmarks was, at least in theory, the best type of legislation because it gave the legislature and myself as much flexibility as possible to put money wherever it might be needed,” Beshear said. “The Speaker and others wanted to go ahead and talk about where to commit the money that was to be raised.”

Beshear said he later supported that move because the earmarks were “worthy causes” and “it engendered more support for the legislation.”

Before lawmakers adjourn the special session that began June 15, he said, they need to address a nearly $1 billion shortfall in the 2010 state budget that begins July 1, approve an economic incentives package and pass a measure to fund mega-transportation projects such as the Ohio River bridges projects in Jefferson County.

“I asked them to work very hard today and push all these issues over the finish line,” Beshear said. “If we do, it will have been a very successful session.”

House and Senate conferees are to meet at 2 p.m. today to iron out differences between the two chambers on the issues and possibly end the session today.

Asked how confident he is that the two chambers will reach an agreement on the three issues, Beshear said, “In the legislative process, you never predict anything. But I think we are close on all those issues … I’m very hopeful they will be able to work out any differences they have and pass all those remaining pieces of legislation.”

Concerning the demise of the slots bills, Beshear said it’s too early to say where that issue will go.

“We have an industry in trouble. There’s no doubt about it,” he said. “Where we go from here? We wait until this session is over with and sit down to talk to a lot of folks about what our options might be.”

He said he has not heard of any attempt in this session to try to get a discharge petition approved in the Republican-led Senate to get the slots bill out of the Senate budget committee, which rejected the measure on Monday. The Democratic-controlled House approved it on a 52-45 vote last Friday.

Asked if there should be a change in leadership in the Senate to get expanded gambling, Beshear said, “We will post-mortem all of this after the session is over.”

Beshear also said he doesn’t find any support in the House for Senate President David Williams’ plan to help the horse industry by taxing lottery sales and out-of-state simulcasting feeds to raise money for track purses.

He said he did not mention it in his comments to House Democrats.

House Speaker Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said earlier Tuesday that here are “some problems” with Williams’ plan.

He said he particularly was concerned about the impact on lottery ticket sales and how lottery proceeds are needed to remain high to pay for scholarships.

Stumbo also said he expects “a pretty strong backlash” against legislators who did not support the slots bill.

–Jack Brammer