KY REPUBLICANS: A PALACE REVOLT?
Not all is well in the kingdom of David Williams, Kentucky’s State Senate President and the state’s most powerful Republican not named Mitch McConnell. Republican Senators continue to drop like horseflies as a result of Williams’ strident anti-slots view with another possible casualty coming up soon in the race between Democrat Jodie Haydon and Republican Jimmy Higdon.
As a former Republican leader, I can promise you this makes many among the party faithful nervous. An increasing number are wondering why we are choosing to die on this cross. Is this really a core Republican issue on the same par as lower taxes and less government? Shouldn’t we have a pro-economic development stance on this issue instead of obstructing growth for political purposes? And in a state that already has pari-mutuels and a state lottery, haven’t we already crossed the pro-gambling threshold anyways?
With the prospects for Republicans losing the Senate becoming more likely, conservatives in Kentucky are increasingly concerned about the consequences. Even more important than not controlling a single branch of state government, the redrawing of the US Congressional districts will be done by the Senate. If Democrats have control, they will change the make up of the Kentucky coalition of Congressmen for the foreseeable future. Most maddening, this all could have been avoided if David Williams hadn’t decided to put all his eggs in this fringe issue’s basket. This is the problem with the modern Republican party; we spend too much time on 50/50 divisive issues like gay marriage and slots at racetracks and don’t concentrate on important "kitchen table" policy that people really want to hear about.
My former organization, with no prodding from yours truly, sent out an interesting email last night asking a few simple questions about the gaming issue. That in itself is not a huge deal, but the wording and sources cited make it clear that at least from the big city Louisville Republican perspective, Bill Farish’s hope for a palace revolt may not be too far behind. Not only do they lay out the case for slots in Kentucky, but they use the facts page from KEEP, an organization most recently known for promoting expanded gaming in the Bluegrass State.
Having been on the receiving end of many disgruntled phone calls after the Senate debacle this summer, I can tell you the Louisville natives are restless. I was able to fully use my voice on this issue once I left my position as chairman. It’s good to see the wind of change are allowing the Jefferson County Republican Party to begin speaking out as well.
AN EMAIL DISTRIBUTED BY THE JEFFERSON COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO TAKE THE SURVEY LINKED AT THE END
When people think about Kentucky they think about horses, and the Kentucky Derby. The horse industry employs over 100,000 people, and is Kentucky’s largest agricultural cash crop. To learn more about the economic impact of the horse industry in Kentucky go to: www.horseswork.com/facts.htm.
But the horse industry in Kentucky is in trouble. Our racing stables and breeding stock are being moved to other states. The reason is simple economics. These competing states are subsidizing their thoroughbred industries with the proceeds from slot machines. These subsidies help them to attract racehorses from Kentucky with higher purses, and studs and brood mares with incentives for horses foaled in that state, and are seriously undermining the preeminence of Kentucky’s horse industry. The importance of the horse industry to Kentucky is undeniable. The question is how we maintain our competitiveness with subsidized racing and breeding in other states.
Tell us what you think. Respond to our survey on this issue at www.louisvillegop.com.
Tags: Bill Farish, bradford cummings, david williams, Jefferson County Republican Party, Jimmy Higdon, Jodie Haydon, keep, mitch mcconnell, Paulick Report, Slot machines
November 12th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Ray - Good piece on the R’s - howver I can’t tell whether you’re a former Republican leader or Brad is - Let’s get together one of these days - ED
November 12th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Just to clarify, I wrote the entire intro piece. Ray had no hand in the analysis except to okay the story.
Brad Cummings
November 12th, 2009 at 10:33 am
The PR’s support of “hurry up and pass the bill”
without talking details is a turnoff.
While we are waiting for this to all play out lets
discuss what should and shouldn’t be in the bill.
The PR sounds more and more like another blind and
deaf cheerleader for the industry
and don’t we have plenty of them?
If the PR doesn’t get an intellectual discussion on
how best to utilize slots, then who will?
November 12th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Following the horrible death of Eight Belles, Alex Waldrop swore that horses were “Priority #1″ in racing as a lame attempt to control public outrage. It was a lie then and it is a lie now. I pray that some day this will be true.
If slots are ever allowed in KY, I pray that the new found $$ will be invested wisely to eliminate most of its terrible, left-over-horse racing often taking place in horrible weather in front of nobody like at Turfway Park. Decency should be more important than making one last buck off horses.
I pray that potential slots $$ will be wisely invested, to inject horses with far less drugs and instead to inject racing with quality, integrity and above all to make equine welfare & safety a top priority from expensive to downer horses. Now that would truly be therapeutic –unlike the way “therapeutic” drugs are used and abused at the track!
I pray that potential slots $$ will be used wisely to truly make “horses Priority #1″ which would help build goodwill and respect, and thus make horse racing a more popular entertainment.
November 12th, 2009 at 11:34 am
The expanded gaming bill has recently added limited language to provide for the health and welfare of the horse through the efforts of an equine health and welfare group of professionals. This reflects a recognition and responsibility to the animals that have altered civilization by its ancestral sacrifices worldwide in war, transportation, labor, food and sport and recreation. Kentucky’s expanded gaming bill will hopefully recognize this debt and present itself as the world’s leader in behalf of the horses of today that are subject to being unwanted, abusedand neglected with antiquated laws (Kentucky ranks in the lowest 5 of states in abuse and neglect laws), and research to address equine medical needs, albeit Eight Belles or a starving group of horses. Significant automatic funding would be a national first.
November 12th, 2009 at 11:39 am
REPUBLICANS THAT ARE IN OFFICE ARE NO DOUBT NICE FPEOPLE..
BUT CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHY MOST OF THEM ARE AGAINST THE THOROUGHBRED BUSINESS
& WHY 99.8 % ARE & HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE ARE “DRAFT DODGERS” IN PAST WAR YEARS & EVEN IN PEACE TIME,
WHEREAS 99% OF “DEMOCRATS THAT HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE IN PAST WARS & ALSO IN PEACE TIME WERE AWARDED MEDALS SUCH AS “MEDAL OF HONOR” , THE ‘”SILVER STAR” , “BRONZE STAR” & SOFORTH..
AS A 80 YEAR OLD WHITE AMERICAN (korean war veteran) WITH SERVICE 1951-1959…
I REALLY DONT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS SO..CAN ANYONE PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS TO ME
November 12th, 2009 at 11:44 am
I feel the Paulick Report is making a serious error in expressing support for one or other faction in the Republican Party. Also, it seems to be at odds with itself by supporting Democrats in many cases.
Indy’s question as to who - if not PR - will host an intellectual discussion is a fair question.
Who? It prompts me to observe that Bill Farish’s hope for a palace revolution (within the Republican palace) is misplaced. Mr. Farish is a powerful, hereditary member of the Establishment that has brought us to the current sad state.
“Physician, heal thyself.” Luke, lV , 23.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
To Indy and Garrett…After spending some time at the Keeneland sale this week and talking with breeders who are seeing more and more mares shipping out of state to board and foal, the urgency for passage of VLT legislation has only increased.
I have never said VLTs are the sole answer for what ails Thoroughbred racing and breeding and urge you to go back and read what I wrote six weeks ago when I described VLTs in Kentucky as a necessary Band-Aid and said the tracks and horsemen need to develop a vision and plan for how to use the money beyond increasing purses:
http://www.paulickreport.com/blog/slots-a-necessary-band-aid/
November 12th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Very sycophantic Paulick. Precisely what part of the legislation provides the “vision and plan”.
And Eugene must be off his meds this morning. Republican Preidnt Eisenhower was a draft dodger and Clinton and Obama are war heros? Gene needs some remedial math.
November 12th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Picksburg, “I got nothing in the Game” Phil, how about you pro business republicans do something other than complain and say no to everything anyone ever proposes? What’s your plan for addressing the serious issue facing the industry in Kentucky, other than to make snide remarks? Got a plan, other than to say no, loudly and louder? Perhaps putting your head in the sand along with Williams and the rest of his brain dead cronies is the answer, because the industry is leaving the state, not in droves but in significant ways and none of you seem to give a rats ass. It’s death by a thousand cuts and you guys are more than willing to sharpen the blades.
For horsemen the problem is this: maidens claiming level 12500 runs for a 24k pot in Pennsylvania. Same level runs for 8500 in Kentucky. If you bred, own, and race a Penn Bred, you can get up to 40% in additional breeders fund awards. In Kentucky, the breeder gets zero. Only Allowance and stakes horses qualify for breeders awards. If you’re a claiming horse you get zip. We have 5 mares in Pennsylvania and while they are not bred to the finest stallions that money can buy, their babies have made us more money with less effort (72k in breeders awards this year alone) when compared to their Kentucky counterparts. And the wizards in Frankfurter are cutting the breeding program by 35%. So bright guy, what’s your solution? Do we compete or do we roll over and pretend that all is well while Indiana and Ohio have their way with us, like we have done so wonderfully over the last 20 years? The present legislation is terrible, but come on Phil it’s easy to tear something down but pretty damn hard to build something of value. Or do you really care?
I hate the way slots mesmerize track owners; they see happy stockholders looking at huge increases in revenue and granting them ever more money in bonus and stock rewards. That its built on the back of a business designed to relieve grandma and grandpa of their social security doesn’t matter. The ultimate best news? If they play it right, they can finally get rid of the horse racing thing, with its cranky HBPA’s and such. So, I’m not in favor of letting the racetracks have their way on this legislation. But this issue cannot be ignored while sister states put slots at our borders and laugh at the fact that they can depend on Kentucky fighting like cats and dogs among ourselves for years to come. So come on Phil, put some of that Obama hate to good work; save the reddest of the red states’ signature industry or are you just another quitter like your heart throb Sarah Palin?
November 12th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
I guess Farish hasn’t read Reagan’s 11th commandment — “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”
November 12th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Ray,
A few points ….and I’ll try not to ramble.
Will you consider convening a group for discussion? Obvious problem trying to discuss here is a tendency to drift off point and into stone throwing.
I have read your column of six weeks back. I didn’t like the metaphorical Band-Aid then; seems to me it is more inappropriste now. No argument, the condition is critical, but how can first-aid cure a critical condition? Reality is, none of our so-called ‘leaders’ have any vision or plans for the future use of possible slots revenue. Absent that, all will eventually roll into the coffers of the tracks - none to help horsemen.
Mares are not leaving Kentucky only because of incentive programs in other states. Some of the exodus is due to other factors. Among them:
Ridiculously high boarding rates;
Exorbitant charges at veterinary clinics;
High stud fees, when adequate, comparable horses are in other states;
Sales tax on those high stud fees;.
Many were seasonal boarders which now must be year-around to qualify for
our incentive program, and pay $60 to participate !
Well, I promised not to ramble.
November 12th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
For many of us Casino Gambling in Ky should be a ballot issue. Most of us have no problem with casinos as they are a way of life these days. many of us do however take exception to slots that will aid the horse racing industry only. Many charities who rely on charitable gaming dollars to survive are being left by the waysidenow thanks to the squeeze play by BeShear and his lobbies. With slots only this will further hurt these organizations.
casino gambling is a more fair equitable split for the State and those wishing to spend their dollars on games of chance.
Put it on the ballot and let us decide but if it is slots only and Churchill and thier cronies getting all the money sorry it isn’t going to fly. With me anyway.
November 12th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Many of the arguments from both sides have merit, but we can fight about details and strategy until we lose both the battle and the war.
I am not a big fan of slots, but I do think we need them to build traffic and stay competitive, and we need them soon. So I strongly support our efforts to get them.
However, if we get slots, and we then sit back and think all our problems are remedied long- term we are fools. The situation with Magnas bankruptcy shows how dire the issues are in big critical markets, LA, NYC, Boston, Detroit, Dallas, Houston, SF, Kansas City, Balt-Wash. When we lose big markets we lose our fan base. Lose the fans and the horse industry is superflous.
The Republican update is very important and I thank PR for sharing it. The Williams stand is very UnRepublican and is mainly a religious position, with strong “big brother knows what is best for you” overtones…very UnRepublican. That in itself should erode his broad support among sane Republicans, if they have a shred of intellectual honesty. Which by itself could resolve the slots vote issue.
Finally, to Garretts points. He is so right on many issues. If the Kentucky big guns are so sincere and concerned about the Kentucky industry, they should stop being so greedy. Just for once they might put the industry ahead of their giant first slice of the pie on every issue. The only place you can follow most of them is to the bank.
November 12th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Bugweed, wow! Obama hatred? Sarah Palin heartthrob? You forgot to mention Carrie Prejean. Perhaps you were watching her sex tape, which, I understand, she made single-handedly. All this from a 4 sentence post.
Life doesn’t operate in a vacuum. We all have something in the game. It is our duty as good citizens to increase the commonwealth, not the specific wealth. I can’t think of any reason to increase one person’s wealth at the expense of another. As an American citizen, it saddens me greatly to watch 250 years of relative freedom and individual rights gradually decline into some perverse form of collectivism where a coercive government chooses the winners and losers based on political clout instead of merit. We have seen it in the auto industy, banking and derivitives, among others. Horse owner/breeders have no entitlement to slot machine earnings anymore than anyone else has to racing earnings. If it was reversed, if casino operators wanted a % of racing handle, you would rightly be furious.
I’ve written before that I used to play blackjack full time. I know the gambling business. Racing, sports betting, and poker differ greatly from the casino business. Casinos have a cost to the communities. Sometimes a huge cost. When I played BJ, I resided in the Reno area. When a slot casino opened, it would soon be followed by a couple of pawn shops. People suffered, the rest of us picked up the tab. As a libertarian, I accept that as the cost of citizenship, but don’t for a moment think that there will be no cost to society when the roots of the casino business takes hold. Corruption will florish as the special interests “jockey” for the spoils.
I’ve already wriiten about improving the racing product, mostly with repricing the product and technology (peer-to-peer - see Betfair). The breeder’s cup had a 2 day attendance of over 80,000 without a slot machine in sight. That should tell you something.
November 12th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Garrett;
I love and respect you, but I must rebut:
-”Ridiculously high boarding rates”: I recently had a friend ask me if I knew of a place where she could send a mare in a nearby state where they might get a live healthy foal. She was not joking. I had a client from New York that had 6 mares at their peak industry involvement and NEVER had all 6 mares in foal and lost at least one mare or one foal every year that they were in business in New York. Different boarding farms. My point: you get what you pay for. The average farm management in Kentucky is better than the average farm management elsewhere. I won’t argue that you can’t find it elsewhere, it is just more difficult. Some of it is just a critical mass of horses (eg, no one around Lexington is more than 30 miles from a referral clinic).
-”exorbitant charges at veterinary clinics”: They still ship here from our adjoining states to be cared for at said veterinary clinics. Vet hospitals in most other states are subsidized because they are teaching facilities, and honestly, all the vets-in-training don’t have the expertise of our vet hospitals here.
I agree with your comment on stud fees.
As for the new mantle taken up by Sen Thayer: earlier he discussed that part of the takeout from gambling would be used for marketing, and the fact is, marketing is our problem. Twenty five years ago (or so, lest I date myself), when I was still an undergraduate, everyone played Bridge and Hearts in their dorm rooms. Now, everyone plays Poker. That’s marketing genius. Market the game. Handicappers. Who is Phil Helmuth? Annie Duke? Can you name a single big time handicapper? What possible allure could playing cards have over handicapping horse racing?
Everyone brings up Eight Belles, and says we have to protect the athlete, who is the star. Eight Belles had zero substances in her body at the time of the race, and broke down on a track which, before synthetics, was one of the safest in the state. (The jury is still out on synthetics being safer.) The filly also came out of a notoriously drug free stable, where the trainer had his hands on every horse every day. While it is essential and admirable to continue to strive for safer racing surfaces, horses will unfortunately always break down. It is because the best of the best are willing to try beyond their physiologic limitations, and they always will.
Horses must be among the stars, but more marketing attention should be focused on handicappers. Young people play poker because some guy in a dorm room jumped up and won the World Series of Poker. Handicapping the races should be the same way. There is no reason the average guy on the street can’t study the form, the numbers and the horses and come up with a big time winner. Let’s market the players, and let’s support Sen. Thayer’s attempt to put forward a comprehensive plan that addresses all of the industry’s problems.
November 12th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Dr. Clara says, “What possible allure could playing cards have over handicapping horse racing?”
In a word - rake. If poker rooms raked 20% of each pot, no one would know Phil and Annie.
November 12th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Dr. Clara’s idea to market the players is one of the most interesting I’ve read. If the pricing inequities of racing, compared to other games, is corrected, then promoting winning players would generate a lot of interest. In the late 1800s, the sports pages regularly published stories about winning players making a big score at the track (or other sports). In 1960, Ed Thorpe published “Beat the Dealer”, showing that blackjack can be beaten mathematically. Later, Ken Uston’s “Million Dollar Blackjack” advertised his flamboyant lifestyle while earning millions playing blackjack, popularized the game to the extent that the casinos had to change the rules. Andy Beyer, and a few others, generated racing interest in the 70s and 80s with published exploits. And amatuer Chris Moneymaker winning the World Series of Poker generated an explosion of poker. Before that, Stu Ungar’s savant like play captivated fellow gamblers and wannabes.
So, instead of marketing the horses and jockeys, maybe a few stories about the successful plungers. Instead of interviewing a half-drunk movie star on Derby/BC day, maybe a clever handicapper. Might work - after lowering the rake!
November 12th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
#1 LARRY IS AS CLEAN AS A NEW WHITE SHEET..WE ARE FRIENDS..IN THE PADDOCK AT BELMONT FOR THE BELMONT STAKES I TOLD LARRY IF WE CANT WIN IT I HOPE YOU DO..WE GOT NIPPED AT THE WIRE BY “RAGS” AS WE WERE DOWN ON THE RAIL FOR THE LAST 3/16 BECAUSE ROBBIE WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT DIDNT KNOW HOW DEEP THE RAIL WAS. ALSO I BELIEVE THAT “EIGHT BELLS” HURT HERSELF WHEN SHE TOOK A BAD STEP & THEN ANOTHER ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE AS SHE WAS BEING PULLED UP WELL AFTER THE FINISH..I SAY THE TRACK HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT..
#2 I BET THE BRILLIANT CARD PLAYER NEVER HAD A REAL JOB LIKE> WORKING IN A LARGE FACTORY, NEVER SERVED IN THE ACTIVE MILITARY, NEVER BEEN ON THE “CONCORD” NEVER DONATED HIS BLOOD (10 PINTS) FOR THE WAR EFFORT,
NEVER WALKED “OMAHA BEACH” , NEVER BEEN IN “DACHAU” I THINK I WILL STOP NOW AS I HAVE JUST CLAIMED MY FREE SPEECH
November 12th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
#1 EIGHT BELLS TOOK 2 BAD STEPS PULLING UP..IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TRACK…LARRY IS A FRIEND & YES HE IS AS CLEAN AS A NEW WHITE SHEET.
#2 IT SEEMS THAT THE CARD PLAYER NEVER HAD A REAL JOB. I BET HE NEVER WORK IN A LARGE FACTORY..NEVER BEEN IN THE ACTIVE MILITARY,NEVER WALKED
OMAHA BEACH, NEVER BEEN ON THE “CONCORD” , NEVER BEEN IN “DACHAU
November 12th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Everything needs to be marketed and marketed well from grooms to horseplayers but it is tough to do unless everything becomes transparent and honorable.
Yes, race horses will always suffer from catastrophic breakdowns but the kill rate could be reduced to 0.+ per 1,000 starts like in countries which use less or no drugs to train and race horses.
November 12th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Let me get this straight, Eugene. You gave 10 pints of blood 60 years ago and now that entitles you to 10 gallons of blood extracted from slot machine players today? And a race tracker telling a card player that he never had a real job? That’s precious. You take a broken down nag, jack it up with an assortment of dope, put a midget on it, who beats the crap out of it for 3/4 of a mile, just so you can make a little money? Then when the nag can’t run or walk anymore, you send it to the renderer for 80 cents on the hoof to be ground into racetrack hotdogs. And you call THAT a real job? Precious, just precious.
November 12th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
DRUGS , MEDICATION IS WHAT I CALL IT
FYI: DO U PEOPLE THINK THE DRUGS CAME AROUND IN THE PAST 5 OR TEN YEARS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT..WELL I GOT NEWS FOR U ALL…THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 1800′S….& STRONGER STUFF THATS AROUND NOW..SOMEONE GOT SUSPENDED FOR GIVING ADVIL TO A STARTER….WHAT A JOKE
November 12th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Clara
well put
the people that keep bringing this up have to be shills from across the River or just plain nitwits
November 12th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Interesting post from Millennium Farms where their publicity man is none other than the senator from gtown himself…now are these his words or the Farms words???
MILLENNIUM FARMS, MOON LAKE FARM ANNOUNCE ALLIANCE
30 Mares to Relocate from Kentucky to Louisiana
LEXINGTON, KY…November 11, 2009…Ro Parra’s Millennium Farms and John Turner’s Moon Lake Farm in Louisiana have announced an alliance between their operations. Turner’s farm will be re-named Millennium Farms at Moon Lake.
Millennium Farms at Moon Lake has also acquired a fractional interest in 30 of Parra’s mares. The mares will be re-located from Kentucky to Louisiana to participate in the Louisiana program. Most are in foal to Kentucky stallions Student Council, Zanjero and Even the Score. Parra’s decision to move mares from Kentucky to Louisiana was based primarily on economics. “We will likely move more mares over time,” said Parra. “We feel that the Kentucky program is not as competitive as other regional programs like the one in Louisiana.”
“We are pleased to announce this alliance with John Turner and we are glad that he has decided to rename his farm Millennium Farms at Moon Lake,” Parra said. “We have long supported the Louisiana program and have had success there, so this a natural extension of the Millennium Farms brand. Furthermore, Moon Lake’s beautiful 800 acres have been improved with significant infrastructure, and most importantly Dr. Jim Ward, DVM has been added as general manager and Jerry Richardson has become farm manager . Both have a sterling reputation as well 55 years of experience in the industry.”
Parra will also move Littleexpectations from 519 Thoroughbreds in Arcadia to Millennium Farms at Moon Lake. Littleexpectations will join Millennium Farms stallions Woke Up Dreamin and Scrimshaw as well as existing Moon Lake stallions A.P. Delta and Chatain.
Littleexpectations, who will stand for a fee of $2,000, stand and nurse, is a 12-year-old son of Valid Appeal and a full brother to successful sire Valid Expectations. An undefeated stakes winner at 2, Littleexpectations comes from the family of Purge, Foolish Pleasure, Jersey
this paragraph is particularly noteworthy
Millennium Farms at Moon Lake has also acquired a fractional interest in 30 of Parra’s mares. The mares will be re-located from Kentucky to Louisiana to participate in the Louisiana program. Most are in foal to Kentucky stallions Student Council, Zanjero and Even the Score. Parra’s decision to move mares from Kentucky to Louisiana was based primarily on economics. “We will likely move more mares over time,” said Parra. “We feel that the Kentucky program is not as competitive as other regional programs like the one in Louisiana.”
score another bonehead move for the senator from gtown!
November 13th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
I became appalled by some of the comments on here attacking this site as supporting some Democrats here or there and not being on the Republican side 100% of the time. The issue is what needs the attention and loyalty, not the people. Slots needs to be supported and if that it means that electing people that support that position, so be it, regardless of party.
How long is the Williams going to try and hold this issue at bay? Until all of his caucus is voted out of office. It is clear that majority of KY want slots. So vote on it now!
November 13th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Concerned Observer, bringing jobs to the area will help a lot for the economy and those of us who live here. That is a long term benefit. In terms of revenue, as we see more and more investment of those funds done correctly into generating further economic development, then that could help for the long-term. So i think there are different things to consider, but allowing our elected representatives just pass the buck to the voters isn’t the right way they need to do it. The Senate need to take up the issue that the house has already and just vote. If the voters don’t agree with their elected representatives, then they will let their elected senator know at the polls.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
The Republican Party will destroy itself by listening to the religious right. It is not their business if people want to play poker or gamble on horses. It’s no different than the options market on Wall St.