Kentucky legislator to file racetrack slots bill

A Kentucky legislator announced Thursday he is preparing to propose legislation that will temporarily legalize slot machines at racetracks in the Bluegrass, stating he doesn’t believe the state’s constitution had to be changed in order to enact the bill.

“Maybe one of the things the legislature should consider is a trial—authorizing a limited number of slots just at tracks and let’s see what kind of response it gets,” State Rep. Greg Stumbo was quoted as saying in Friday’s Lexington Herald-Leader. “Then we’ll know after a year.”

In making the announcement, Stumbo said he was stunned an expanding gaming bill proposed earlier this year by Gov. Steve Beshear went nowhere. Beshear’s main platform in his campaign that he eventually defeated incumbent Gov. Ernie Fletcher was allowing for casinos in the state, but the proposal hit a fatal roadblock when a House committee changed the bill so that tracks weren’t guaranteed any of the licenses.

“I don’t believe the House was every serious about passing any type of expanding gambling,” Stumbo was quoted as saying in Friday’s Lexington Herald-Leader. Stumbo also reportedly has not discussed the proposal with Beshear, who is currently in Japan on business.

Stumbo said he plans on pre-filing the slots bill soon so that discussion will begin before the 2009 General Assembly convenes in January. He said the bill would provide that some revenue would go to the Kentucky school system.

« Back