Posts Tagged ‘Frankfort’

True, we don’t cover much Standardbred racing on the Paulick Report but when Alan Leavitt of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and prominent Standardbred breeder makes the following comment, we feel called to bring it to your attention.

"This is a sad day for Kentucky, which likes to call itself the Horse Capital of the World, when the greatest trotter ever to stand in the state is forced to move because a small group of arrogant, world class hypocrites in Frankfort refuse to give the Standardbred breeding industry the support it needs to remain viable."

A small group of arrogant, world class hypocrites in Frankfort…who on earth could he be talking about?

For the rest of this article, click here. Then come back to the Paulick Report and tell us what you think.

- Bradford Cummings

Republican State Senator Damon Thayer submits the next installment in a series of editorials regarding the ever long push for slots in Kentucky. Senator Thayer claims the best way forward is a ballot initiative that would leave the vote to the people.

Last week, the Paulick Report presented the reasons why a ballot initiative, especially the type that Sen. Thayer is submitting, will not happen in Kentucky. In what we find to be a vapid platitude, Sen. Thayer proclaims, “…it is never too late to let the people decide.”

Where do you stand?

For too long, casino gambling has dominated the debate in Frankfort to the detriment of all other issues.   Governor Steve Beshear has advocated very little, if anything, beyond the expansion of gambling.  Attorney General opinions throughout the years are divided.  The Governor campaigned on “letting the people decide.”  As recently as last year, members of House Democratic Leadership promoted a constitutional amendment to expand gambling.

The constitutional amendment that I have proposed will take the issue off the table so the Governor can focus on working with the General Assembly in a bipartisan manner to address the serious public policy issues facing Kentucky.  If passed, it would allow video-lottery terminals in counties that have horse racing, with a local referendum vote.  The proceeds would go to purses, breeders incentives and marketing for horse racing, and the facility operators, with the remainder sent to the state for capital projects and debt service reduction.

Members of the horse industry say that it is too late for a constitutional amendment; that it would take too long for relief to arrive.  I say that time-consuming litigation is assured with “slots by statute.”  A constitutional amendment is the only way that the horse industry will be able to “lock-in” the percentage of slots revenue that goes to purses.  There are examples of state after state with slot-subsidized purses whose legislatures have gone back and shifted funds away from the horsemen.  My proposal combined with the legislation similar to what the Senate passed during the special session in a bipartisan manner would give the horse industry not only purse protection but also immediate relief.

No constitutional amendment has ever reached the House floor, much less the Senate’s.  After considerable Democratic Party infighting, the amendment that finally passed a House committee in 2008 never got a floor vote.  Did the Governor never really care about letting the people decide?  We shall never know because he declared the bill “dead” for the session and declined to push for a vote.

Finally, the question that needs to be answered is: do you believe that increased purses and improved wagering products and marketing can save tracks, or will it be necessary to permanently subsidize tracks?  Track officials reveal themselves when my friend, Turfway’s CEO Bob Elliston, said that my proposal would “help make Kentucky racing more competitive by increasing purses but it doesn’t help reinvigorate racetracks.”

It seems that it’s not about the horse-racing, the “show,” it’s about the companies that own the tracks.  They don’t want just a minimal approach to beef up purses – which they had argued previously would bring more fans and help everyone – they want rampant slots to create gambling empires.  It will not be long before the horses are marginalized.  My amendment would prevent this.

Some may say, too little, too late.

I say that it is never too late to let the people decide.

In the latest of a series of editorials between Kentucky’s horsemen and Senate President David Williams, Bill Farish of Lane’s End Farm writes a scathing indictment of the constitutional amendment. He claims it is a cop-out by Senate Republicans and that by David Williams’ own admission, an amendment is an unnecessary step.

While we both agree that slots are essential to the survival of Kentucky racing, how we get there is where the Paulick Report splits. Ray has been against a constitutional amendment, believing it will only stall the process and ultimately lead to nothing. I understand the current make up of the Senate and believe the only way to have this signed into law by 2011 is through the people. If 70% of Kentuckians want this, then it should be a slam dunk, right? And there is no guarantee the Senate will flip in 2010 as it is shaping up to be a Republican year nationally.

What say you? - Bradford Cummings

While our signature industry continues to exit the Commonwealth, our Republican leaders in the Senate continue to insist on playing politics with the future of the Thoroughbred business in Kentucky. For the last few years, Senate Republicans led by Senate President David Williams have steadfastly opposed a constitutional amendment to allow expanded gaming opportunities at Kentucky’s racetracks. Their longstanding opposition has allowed our competitor states to establish racing and breeding programs subsidized by expanded gaming, and those states have put us at an enormous competitive disadvantage. We are losing race horses, stallions, mares and a significant number of jobs to those states, and we are in danger of seeing major farms shutter their operations and move to friendlier jurisdictions.
 
As a final insult to our signature industry, Sen. Williams did not even bother to bring legislation that would have allowed VLTs at Kentucky race tracks for a full vote of the Senate. After the bill passed the House it was promised a fair hearing in the Senate, but was instead sent to a committee where the chairman declared it dead before testimony was even heard.
 
So after years of outright neglect and hostility toward an industry that employs 100,000 Kentuckians, it appears that Senate Republicans are beginning to feel the heat from their constituents. As almost 70 percent of Kentuckians support putting VLTs at racetracks, and as their Senate majority has shrunk with the loss of two straight special elections, one would hope that Senate Republicans would finally listen to the majority of Kentuckians by supporting legislation to put our industry on a level competitive playing field. But sadly, it appears that Senate Republicans will continue to play political games with the livelihoods of so many hard working Kentuckians.
 
The word around Frankfort is that Senate leadership is preparing to offer up the old idea of putting forth a constitutional amendment to permit gaming at Kentucky race tracks. This sounds great on the surface but, as usual in politics, there is more to it than meets the eye. First, a constitutional amendment is unnecessary, and Sen. Williams has already conceded this point. Allowing VLTs at racetracks is already constitutional, as affirmed by two recent Attorney General Opinions. Sen. Williams agreed that a constitutional amendment is not required to put VLTs at racetracks. So why then are they preparing to support a constitutional amendment? Politics.
 
Senate Republicans are struggling to retain their majority, and several of their members are facing tough re-election fights next November. It seems that Senate leadership has made the cynical decision to try and put expanded gaming on the ballot in an effort to drive up social conservative turnout in the next election cycle, hoping that the increased turnout will help their Senate candidates, in much the same manner that the gay marriage amendment helped Republican candidates a few years ago.
 
Never mind that a constitutional amendment is not necessary. Never mind that it could not be voted on until November 2010, and then if it passed, could not be implemented until late 2011—costing Kentucky jobs and doing further damage to our industry in the mean time. Never mind that out-of-state casinos will pour in tens of millions of dollars to defeat an amendment, and will once again make Senate Republicans the biggest defenders of out-of-state casinos. Never mind that the time for an amendment has come and gone, and that the industry desperately needs immediate statutory action.
 
None of these things matter, because it is clear that Senate Republican leadership is not really interested in helping the horse industry. Rather, they are only interested in helping themselves, by trying to hold onto whatever power they can in Frankfort. Senate Republicans seem determined to play political games with thousands of Kentuckians’ livelihoods, and their retention of power and privilege has trumped all else. It is truly disheartening that a handful of Senators have decided that retaining their political power is more important than helping our entire state, helping our signature industry and protecting the jobs of 100,000 Kentuckians.
 
As a lifelong Republican, I am hopeful that rank and file members of the Senate caucus will rise up against their cynical leadership, and act in the best interest of Kentucky by supporting an immediate statutory solution that will enable our signature industry to fairly compete with our out of state competition.
 
Bill Farish
General Manager, Lane’s End Farm

When horse people are told about demonstrations, they probably think about a salesman or company rep showing them how the newest product or gadget works in order for them to improve their business. But in the proud history of the United States, a different kind of demonstration has been a key part of protest movements that have brought about changes in government policy. The Boston Tea Party may have been America’s first important demonstration, and many others have followed to make this great country what it is. The issues championed by these movements have come from the grassroots as an attempt to right an historical wrong or simply as a means to be heard by those in power.
 
With this in mind, it is understandable that when an industry led by many influential and traditionally entrenched members of society have their moment in the sun to “take to the streets” — as Kentucky’s horse industry will do Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort to rally support for expanded gaming at Kentucky racetracks — some confusion as to how to pull off an effective display may ensue.
 
But don’t worry; the Paulick Report will be your guidebook to protesting. Exhaustive research and a personal flashback to the late 1960s protests for equal rights and against the war in Vietnam have given us a list of dos and don’ts for an effective protest to get legislators to understand the importance of leveling the playing field for Kentucky’s horse industry. We aren’t guaranteeing these tips will bring expanded gaming to Kentucky, but with a little knowledge and hard work, at least Wednesday won’t go down in the annals of history with the saggy pants protest in Milwaukee, the naked cyclists against cars in the UK or anything PETA has done in the last 20 years.
 
10 Dos and Don’ts for Wednesday’s Frankfort protest rally

10. Do look presentable - This doesn’t mean you have to show up in your finest Hugo Boss suit, but make sure you at least put on a fresh shirt after cleaning up the morning stalls. And please leave your pitchfork at home. It will be confiscated at the security check.

9. Don’t confuse the cause – Wednesday isn’t your opportunity to save the whales or get tax rebates for those solar panels you installed in March.
 
8. Do call your legislator beforehand and schedule a meeting – After all, they do work for you. To find the name and number of your state representative or senator, click here.
 
7. Don’t show up at a legislator’s office unannounced – While they do work for you, they also work for the other 20,000 people in your district and so they tend to be a bit busy, especially during a controversial special session.
 
6. Do be respectful – Our friends from the Family Foundation will be on the very same steps Tuesday and some may stick around Wednesday to counter protest. No one wants to see John Greathouse slugging it out with Don Ball and his anti-gaming followers – except the Herald-Leader.
 
5. Don’t give ANYTHING to an elected official – You may think presenting David Williams with a horseshoe from your favorite broodmare is just a nice gesture, but Kentucky law strictly prohibits anything that may have the appearance of bribery.
 
4. Do tell everyone about the Paulick Report – We thought we’d try to slip a shameless plug by you! And in all seriousness, we are committed to bringing you the most up to date news on the expanded gaming issue, among others.
 
3. Don’t shoot the messenger – If you are angry at your legislator, don’t take it out on their staff. They are just doing their job and it’s a strong possibility they share a different point of view from their boss.
 
2. Do show passion – No one is going to judge you for shouting too loud or pumping your fist too fervently. Remember, you will be among friends.
 
1. Don’t give up – The worst kind of protest is one that lasts just a day. Make sure you continue to put pressure on legislators. Send them letters, set up future meetings and organize letter to the editor drives in your local papers. Trust us, they read everything written about them!

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