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2008 House Bill 550 (Casino amendment)

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  • Introduced by Rep. Darryl Owens on February 14, 2008, to submit to voters a constitutional amendment legalizing casinos and authorizing up to seven casinos at horse tracks and five other casinos elsewhere.
    • Referred to the House Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee on February 15, 2008.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Rob Wilkey on February 28, 2008, to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky to permit the General Assembly to enact laws permitting the operation of up to 5 casinos by horse racing associations licensed by the Commonwealth as of January 1, 2008, and up to 4 other casinos, and to limit the number of casinos operated in the Commonwealth to 9. The amendment establishes voting requirements for local approval of casinos and imposes a tax on casino gambling and establishes the uses of such revenue and permits the General Assembly to establish additional standards to ensure certain goals.
      • Withdrawn in the House on March 4, 2008.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Carl Rollins on February 28, 2008, to establish that the number of casinos authorized to be operated by entities other than licensed horse racing Associations not exceed the number of casinos authorized to be operated by horse racing Associations licensed by the state as of January 1, 2008.
    • Reported in the House on February 28, 2008, favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar.
    • Substitute offered in the House on February 28, 2008, to propose to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky to permit the General Assembly to enact laws permitting the operation of no more than 9 casinos and to establish voting requirements for local approval of casinos. The substitute imposes a tax on casino gaming and establishes the uses of such revenue and permits the General Assembly to establish locations and license fees.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Darryl Owens on February 28, 2008, to make title amendment.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Ancel Smith on February 29, 2008, to require that casino tax revenues be used to eliminate the property tax on motor vehicles before going to any other purpose.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Ancel Smith on February 29, 2008, to propose to amend the Constitution of Kentucky to add a requirement that tax proceeds from gaming are to be used to eliminate property tax on motor vehicles before tax proceeds are appropriated for any other .
    • Amendment offered by Rep. David Osborne on February 29, 2008, to restore five horse track casinos and add local option voting requirements for casinos to the original bill.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Ken Upchurch on March 3, 2008, to change references to "casinos" to "gambling dens".
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Ken Upchurch on March 4, 2008, Replace references to casinos with the term "dens of iniquity".
    • Amendment offered by Rep. David Floyd on March 4, 2008, to amend the Kentucky Constitution to require that the voters located in any county vote their approval of the expanded use of gambling games and devices within that county before a casino or other gaming venue may be established within that county. The amendment also deletes the requirement that the local legislative body must give its approval before a casino operated by a horse racing track may be established in the county. The amendment would also propose to amend Section 226 of the Kentucky Constitution to require the General Assembly to define "casino" and "gaming venue." The amendment would also rephrase the question to be submitted to voters to conform with these changes.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. David Floyd on March 4, 2008, to amend the Kentucky Constitution to require that a county's voters give their approval before a casino may be established within the county. The amendment also deletes the requirement that the local legislative body must give its approval before a casino operated by a horse racing track may be established in the county. The amendment would also rephrase the question to be submitted to voters to conform with these changes.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Charlie Hoffman on March 5, 2008, to require the General Assembly to pass legislation regarding gambling.

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Comments

Introduced by Rep. Darryl Owens on February 14, 2008. New Comment

1) Why are we playing games? [by Condit on April 12, 2008]
Casino gaming is the wrong way to go for Kentucky. Let’s do something different and leave the games to be played by our bordering states. Give Indianans’, Illinoisans’, and West Virginians’ another reason to come to the Blue Grass. Pass a law allowing sport books to opperate at all of Kentucky’s' horseracing facilities.
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2) Why are we playing games? [by Anonymous Citizen on April 12, 2008]
Casino gaming is the wrong way to go for Kentucky. Let’s do something different and leave the games to be played by our bordering states. Give Indianans’, Illinoisans’, and West Virginians’ another reason to come to the Blue Grass. Pass a law allowing sport books to opperate at all of Kentucky’s' horseracing facilities.
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3) Gambling [by Anonymous Citizen on March 6, 2008]
What is the KY Derby and Keeneland? Isn't that gambling too? I say do away with it all. Gambling is gambling regardless if it is the KY Derby or a casino it is gambling so don't pick and choose just do away with it all. If you are against casinos you have to be against the gambling that goes on at the Derby and Keeneland or is it ok to have double standards?
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4) Richard Michael Gramly, PhD [by Anonymous Citizen on March 4, 2008]
Dear Legislator:
I read your comments with interest. Rep. Upchurch is also on track by suggesting that "casinos" be termed "gambling dens".
The people who promote gambling dens are no friends of law-abiding citizens of Kentucky.
Where there is "loose" money is where trouble begins. Vote against all initiatives that would promote the vice. There is no redemming aspect to gambling. It is a social disease.
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5) House Bill 550 [by Anonymous Citizen on March 2, 2008]
The State Constitution reads that "if" 60% or more of the Kentucky General Asembly "agree" that there should be a change in our State Constitution, then the issue is placed on the ballot to see if the voters also "agree" with them on the change. 60% of the members of the Kentucky General Assembly do not agree a change should be made to allow casino gambling in Kentucky. Therefore there is no reason for them to vote to put in on the ballot. A vote to do so by a legislator is saying that legislator favors casino gambling. We have a representative form of government, where citizens elect officials to represent them in Frankfort. The constitution does not call for legislators to turn their backs on their duties, and take no stand on a tough issue, and then turn the matter over to others to decide. They would not be doing their duty if the did so.

I know the millionaire casino owners are unhappy with how things stand. I know they are willing to spend millions in campaign donations, media advertising and mail-out flyers in an effort to get their way, but their plan is not best of Kentucky. If the casino owners could get their way on this issue, "they" would control state government with their money in the future. Our elected officials would depend on casino owners for their major campagin donations and would be voting however the casino owners wanted them to on legislation before the Kentucky General Assembly. That is not the Kentucky I dream of for my children and grand-children.
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6) Can the amendments [by David Dunn on March 1, 2008]
Give the people the right to vote yea or nay on casino gambling. Then all these other issues can be addressed then.

It looks like the Assembly doesn't want to give the voters a clear yes or no vote. They want to obscure it with all kinds of legislative gibberish.

Get rid of all these amendments. Put the issue on the ballot: Should casino gambling be allowed in Kentucky?
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7) Casino gambling [by Anonymous Citizen on February 26, 2008]
According to our State Constitution, if the majority of the Kentucky General Assembly agrees that a change should be made in our constitution(like allowing casino gambling), they have to first vote to do so. Then the issue goes on the ballot to see "if" the voters "agree" with the legislators.

There is nothing in the State Constitution that allows of legislators to turn their back on their duties, and take no stand on a tough issue, but to turn the matter over to others to decide. We have a representative form of government and therefore elect legislators to represent us in the Kentucky General Assembly.
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8) Amending Constitution for something voters haven't approved [by Anonymous Citizen on February 15, 2008]
Horse before the cart on the casino issue. The voters of Kentucky have not had the chance to vote on casino gambling and you guys are already talking about amending the constitution when we give the OK. Thanks for the vote of confidence. (Wink, Wink)
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