FRANKFORT, Ky. (WHAS11) – Kentucky's job growth, education funding and horse racing industry hang in the balance as a constitutional amendment to allow expanded gambling struggles to get out of the gate, supporters said at the state capitol on Thursday.
Spearheaded by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Kentucky Alliance for Jobs is a newly formed coalition of about thirty business, organized labor, and education associations. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and Lexington Mayor Jim Gray are also members.
"Often times, we're engaged in various battles in Frankfort and we don't always see eye to eye… However, we stand here united today," said Chamber President & CEO David Adkisson of the variety of special interest groups that form the alliance.
"I think the Chamber of Commerce leadership ought to be ashamed of their damned selves to be honest with you," countered former Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Larry Forgy, "…backing an $800 million a year gambling loss for a population that can't afford a ham sandwich at lunch."
"We're labor unions, business leaders, teachers and private citizens," said Larry Roberts, state director of the Kentucky State Building & Construction Trades Council, a member if the pro-gambling alliance.
Five education related organizations are endorsing expanded gambling, including the Kentucky Education Association and the Jefferson County Teachers Association.
"We are facing too many uncertainties on how to fund schools in the state," said Stu Silberman of Kentucky Education Action Team (KEAT).
It is a broad based coalition but they will not decide. Once a gambling amendment is introduced, it will need 23 Kentucky Senators to agree and vote for it to move forward.
Gambling opponents say the support is simply not there.
"We think if the governor had the votes that he claims he has, number one you would see them here today which we're not seeing yet," said Martin Cothran, spokesman for the Family Foundation of Kentucky. "And he would have already have introduced this legislation which he hasn't done."
The legal squabbling over redistricting has paralyzed the legislature. Yet, Beshear said there is still time this session for the amendment to pass, and, despite the delay in introducing the legislation, he believes it still has enough votes.
"Obviously, we continue to stay in contact with those who have indicated their support." Beshear said. "But I can tell you that at this point I've detected no wavering of that support. People that feel this ought to go on the ballot seem to be convinced of that."
"We're not in a panic," Adkisson said.
Though Beshear has yet to reveal the language in the amendment, or whether it guarantees that racetracks get casinos, the horse industry is a key player.
"I feel sure that the legislation we will introduce, they'll be supportive of it," Beshear said.
"What's at stake is a contraction of the signature industry for Kentucky," said Kevin Flanery, Churchill Downs President.
Other racing states use alternative gambling revenue to boost purses and breeding incentives.
"We're losing tax dollars. We're losing horses and most important, we're losing jobs to these other states as a result," Adkisson said.
"The reality is we've had to eliminate racing days because other states have seen what Kentucky has, and they have gone on a tact to steal it away from us," Flanery said.
"This is a terrible thing for the regular people of this state," Forgy countered, "…and it's all designed to help a few wealthy racetrack directors."
"It's really a swelling up from the grass roots," argued Flanery, "from people all around the state who see gambling in surrounding communities and don't understand why we don’t have that economic impact here in Kentucky."
