| ||||||||||
 
Dr. Ronald P. Rogers CHIROPRACTOR Support for your body's natural healing capabilities 270-384-5554 Click here for details 
  
Columbia Gas Dept. GAS LEAK or GAS SMELL Contact Numbers 24 hrs/ 365 days 270-384-2006 or 9-1-1 Call before you dig 
Visit ColumbiaMagazine's Directory of Churches Addresses, times, phone numbers and more for churches in Adair County Find Great Stuff in ColumbiaMagazine's Classified Ads Antiques, Help Wanted, Autos, Real Estate, Legal Notices, More... 
|
Gov. Beshear, Sen. Thayer introduce gaming amendment Governor, senators from both parties call on all lawmakers to allow citizens to vote. Bill would allow Kentucky voters to authorize up to five casinos at racetracks and two at stand-alone locations. 'With the infusion of gaming money, the state could increase funding for education, help universities lower the cost of tuition, or better fund service programs for our elderly - all without raising taxes or further painful cuts to other services,' Gov. Beshear said. Estimates are for $268 to $377 million in taxes annually from additional gambling. By Kerri Richardson and Terry Sebastian News from Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office FRANKFORT, KY - Calling it "the best way to keep hundreds of millions of dollars here at home," Gov. Steve Beshear and Sen. Damon Thayer announced their plan to introduce an expanded gaming bill in the Senate today. The bill would authorize a statewide vote to amend the state's constitution to allow expanded gaming in up to seven locations in Kentucky. "We've been debating this issue in Frankfort for more than 15 years. The citizens of our state are clamoring to have their voices heard," Gov. Beshear said. "Two recent polls show more than 80 percent of Kentuckians want to cast a ballot on gaming. Are we going to listen to them or not?" The bill would allow Kentucky voters to approve a constitutional amendment that would authorize up to five casinos at racetracks and two at stand-alone locations at least 60 miles from the nearest racetrack. Revenue from the gaming facilities would be spent for job creation, education, human services, health care, veterans programs, local governments, public safety and support of the horse industry. "The time has come to let the people decide on the issue of expanded gambling," said Sen. Thayer. "This issue has been lingering in Kentucky for nearly two decades, a majority of Kentuckians wish to vote on it, and the time has come to give them that opportunity." Gov. Beshear and Sen. Thayer worked together for weeks to develop the bill and to build consensus support for it within the General Assembly. Sponsors of the bill include three Republicans, Sen. Thayer; Sen. Carroll Gibson and Sen. Tom Buford; and five Democrats, Sen. R.J. Palmer; Sen. Perry Clark; Sen. Denise Harper Angel; Sen. Gerald Neal and Sen. Joey Pendleton. "A recent economic study showed that in 2010, Kentuckians spent $451 million on casino gaming in our neighboring states. That's hundreds of millions of dollars that could be supporting our schools and building our roads - but instead it's padding the budgets of Indiana and West Virginia," Gov. Beshear said. "It's time to keep Kentucky's money here at home, and it's time to let the voters have their say." The expansion of gaming would bring millions of dollars in recurring revenue into the state budget without raising taxes, Gov. Beshear said. One recent economic study estimates that, under one scenario, expanding gaming at racetracks would bring in one-time license fees of $266 million and $377 million in taxes annually into the General Fund. That kind of recurring revenue would have enormous positive impact for Kentuckians, said Gov. Beshear, noting that his current biennial budget proposal cuts most state agencies 8.4 percent. These cuts are on top of prior cuts, some of which total more than 30 percent since 2008. Gov. Beshear has characterized the budget as "inadequate," and warned that without increased revenue, persistent generational problems will continue to prevent the state from flourishing. With the infusion of gaming money, the state could increase funding for education, help universities lower the cost of tuition, or better fund service programs for our elderly - all without raising taxes or further painful cuts to other services, Gov. Beshear said. Details such as where to put the casinos and license fees and tax rates will be determined by enabling legislation that would be drafted after the legislature approves this bill, and if Kentuckians vote to approve the gaming amendment. Because the bill is a constitutional amendment, it must garner at least 60 percent of the votes in each legislative chamber in order to pass. "You continue to hear all kinds of arguments for and against allowing expanding gaming in this state," Gov. Beshear said. "What you don't hear, however, is one argument about why the people of Kentucky shouldn't have a right to vote on it. That's because there really isn't a legitimate argument against that. The time for a vote is now." This story was posted on 2012-02-15 02:08:16
Printable: this page is now automatically formatted for printing.
Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic News:
Geraldine Grant is outstanding mother with outstanding children Congressional Candidate Filing Deadline is February 17, 2012 CAUD BOIL WATER ADVISORY issued, Bomar Heights area CM unknowlngly stumbled upon Downtown Putman County! Adair Salvation Army had record Christmas Kettle donations SSGT (Ret) Stanley Jones (1933-2012) will have PGR honors Free Gospel Singing at Melson Ridge, Sun. Feb. 19, 2012 A List of Adair County, Kentucky, Firsts What a blessing - Geraldine Grant at 80 (Ad) Party looking for Riding Mower pan seat View even more articles in topic News |
 
115 Jamestown St. Columbia, KY. 270-384-2496 
  
   
 Provided by the Adair Co Fiscal Court and the Adair Co. Emergency Mgt. Agency 
|
||||||||
|
| ||||||||||
|
Quick Links to Popular Features
Looking for a story or picture? Try our Photo Archive or our Stories Archive for all the information that's appeared on ColumbiaMagazine.com. | ||||||||||
|
Contact us: Columbia Magazine and columbiamagazine.com are published by Linda Waggener and Pen Waggener, PO Box 906, Columbia, KY 42728. Please use our contact page, or send questions about technical issues with this site to webmaster@columbiamagazine.com. All logos and trademarks used on this site are property of their respective owners. All comments remain the property and responsibility of their posters, all articles and photos remain the property of their creators, and all the rest is copyright 1995-Present by Columbia Magazine. Privacy policy: use of this site requires no sharing of information. Voluntarily shared information may be published and made available to the public on this site and/or stored electronically. Anonymous submissions will be subject to additional verification. Cookies are not required to use our site. However, if you have cookies enabled in your web browser, some of our advertisers may use cookies for interest-based advertising across multiple domains. For more information about third-party advertising, visit the NAI web privacy site.
| ||||||||||
