Posts Tagged ‘vlt legislation’

By Ray Paulick
You don’t have to live in the 18th Senate district of Kentucky to make a difference in the special election Aug. 25 to choose a replacement for state Sen. Charlie Borders, the Republican who chaired the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee that killed House Bill 2, legislation permitting VLTs or slot machines at state racetracks.

If you happen to live in that district and care about the horse industry, there is a clear-cut choice between the two candidates running for the seat vacated when Borders accepted a position on the Public Service Commission offered by Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear. The two candidates are Democrat Robin Webb (pictured, left) of Grayson, who has served in the House of Representatives on behalf of the 96^th District since 1999, and Republican Dr. Jack Ditty, a dermatologist from Greenup County. The 18^th district encompasses the northeastern Kentucky counties of Bracken, Carter, Greenup, Lewis, Mason and Robertson.

Webb voted for House Bill 2. She is an experienced horsewoman with years of involvement with Tennessee Walking Horses. Ditty said he wants to help the horse industry but opposes the expansion of gambling and would have voted against House Bill 2 if given the chance.

A fund-raiser is being held on Webb’s behalf from 5-6:30 p.m. tomorrow night (Tuesday, July 28) at Bruce Hundley’s Saxony Farm between Lexington and Versailles, Ky. It is being hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Craig Bandoroff, Bill Casner, Johnny T.L. Jones III, Mr. and Mrs. Mike McMahon, Jack Smith III, Robert Clay, Earl Rogers and Elisabeth Jensen. (Call 859 983-8703 for details.)

That same night, Don and Mira Ball are hosting a fund-raiser “honoring” and benefiting the Republican Caucus that killed House Bill 2 at their Donamire Farm. Don Ball is said to have great influence over Senate President David “Blackjack” Williams, the Republican from Burkesville who reportedly frequents Indiana and Mississippi casinos but is determined to keep Kentucky racetracks from getting VLTs that would level the economic playing field with states like Indiana, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico and soon Maryland and Ohio.

Could the choice between the candidates and the fund-raisers be any more distinct? Donamire Farm is a showplace farm owned by a family that has made a fortune building thousands of houses across central Kentucky with their Ball Homes. Saxony Farm is a working family farm, as seen here in this segment from a 1995 KET (public television) program.

Senate Republicans hold a 21-16 edge over Democrats, with one Independent. While it isn’t known how all of the Republicans in the Senate would have voted on House Bill 2 since the A&R Committee stopped it from getting to the Senate floor for a vote, only one of the Republican members of the committee, Tom Buford of Nicholasville, supported the bill.

The election of Webb would close the gap and send a message to Williams and the rest of the Republicans in the Senate that they might want to reconsider their position on House Bill 2 or future VLT legislation.

In an interview with the Paulick Report, Webb said she voted for House Bill 2 “because it was restricted to gaming venues that were already established. This industry needs to be competitive with other states. I appreciate it as one of our signature industries and a major economic driver. The bill was not only for racing breeds but for the equine industry over all–racing, non-racing, research and education. The issue is multi-faceted.”

Webb has a deep personal involvement with horses. “I showed pleasure horses most of my life,” she said. “I was a licensed walking horse judge at one time, I’ve been a horse show announcer, have taught 4H camps, was a 4H state champion and like to trail ride. I’ve always had an interest in horses. I’m a horsewoman and I appreciate the industry.”

She’s got plenty of experience in the political world as well, having learned bi-partisanship in her own home while growing up. Her deceased father was a Republican who was an alternate to that party’s 1968 presidential convention and her mother was a delegate at the 1972 Democratic convention.”

Webb, who is the second-ranking member of the House Budget Committee, said she can bring a great deal of budget experience to the Senate. She is also a tough and proud woman who has overcome personal difficulties, including an abusive spousal relationship and health problems (her own, and that of a prematurely born baby)  that have given her a very intimate knowledge of the challenges this country faces with its health-care crisis.

To learn more about Robin Webb, click here. For information on Tuesday’s Webb for Senate fund-raiser, call (859) 983-8703. If you are unable to attend and want to make a donation to Robin Webb’s Senate campaign, click here.

Copyright © 2009, The Paulick Report

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There is no question Kentucky’s horse industry is in crisis, and the special legislative session called by Gov. Steve Beshear and beginning Monday, June 15, may be the most critical five days ever seen by the Bluegrass State’s horse farmers and all others whose businesses and the livelihoods for their families are dependent on a healthy horse industry. If a proposal to allow Kentucky racetracks to level the playing field with other racing states by installing Video Lottery Terminals is not passed, there could be dire consequences for businesses and families across the state in the very near future.

Many legislators from across the state may not fully understand the impact the horse industry has on Kentucky’s economy. The round numbers - more than 100,000 jobs and billions of dollars in direct economic impact - only tell part of the story. Next Wednesday’s horse industry rally in the state capital of Frankfort organized by the Kentucky Equine Education Project will be an important show of support for the legislation, and I hope everyone will participate in that. But there is more that you can do.

If you’re a Kentuckian or operate a horse-related business in the state, please take a few minutes to fill out a brief fact sheet about your company, and fax or mail it to Gov. Beshear, House Speaker Greg Stumbo, Senate President David Williams and your local elected officials. They will appreciate and benefit from knowing about that business and the impact it has on Kentucky’s economy.(Click here if you need help finding the state representative or senator in your district).

You can access the fact sheet by clicking here. It is suggested you print the  sheet out on your company’s letterhead before filling it out. .

I encourage all of Kentucky’s horse-related businesses to participate: stallion stations, boarding farms, training centers, racetracks, tack shops and supply stores, veterinarians and equine hospitals,bloodstock agencies, auction consignors and sale companies, insurance agents, publications, advertising agencies, anyone whose business involves horses. To help get this message out even further, please send either the link to this story or a copy of the PDF fact sheet to other horse-related companies you do business with in Kentucky.

Contact information:
Gov Steve Beshear
700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 100
Frankfort, KY 40601
Tel: 502.564.2611
Fax: 502.564.2517

Sen. President David Williams
702 Capitol Avenue, Annex Room 236
Frankfort, KY 40601
Tel: 502.564.3120
Fax: 502.564.0456

House Speaker Greg Stumbo
702 Capitol Avenue, Annex Room 303
Frankfort, KY 40601
Tel: 502.564.2363
Fax: 502.564.7178

 

Ever since I was a young boy, all I have ever wanted to do is ride race horses. I grew up in Louisiana, but 12 years ago I moved to Kentucky to be in the middle of the horse racing and breeding capital of the world. Since then, I have seen success I could have never dreamed of—riding horses like Street Sense, Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra and winning the Kentucky Oaks, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.

 

I get to work at Churchill Downs at 6 a.m. to work horses and help my older brother, Cecil, who is a trainer. I love being around the horses, and I love being around the hard-working people who make up this industry. While the public may see me ride in the afternoon for a few minutes at a time, I know that a great deal of my success comes from the efforts of the people on the backside of the track who spend many hours each day, seven days a week with the horses.  

 

There are reasons that Kentucky has been recognized as number one. We have strong race tracks and internationally known races which provide a year round circuit. We have the finest breeding farms and horses in the world. And, we have outstanding horsemen and women who take care of the horses. No other state has this foundation, but Kentucky is at a crossroads. Our position as the best is slipping. Every other state in the region now helps fund their purses and breeders’ awards with money from alternative forms of gaming.

 

Let us compete. The Governor has called a special session to address VLT’s at the state’s tracks. If it doesn’t pass soon, then we will fall way behind, and those hard-working people all over Kentucky who take care of the horses will have to relocate to other states.

 

Sincerely,

 

Calvin Borel