Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Even before its bill is out of committee, a coalition of gambling supporters
is pushing to change the legislation to focus more on casinos than slot
machines at pari-mutuel racetracks. Dubbed the "industry bill," it was
considered Monday by the House Federal and State Affairs Committee in a room
packed with spectators, many wearing yellow stickers of support. The
committee will consider two other bills this week focusing on casinos.
Chairman Arlen Siegfreid, R-Olathe, said the committee will vote next week,
but added, "I have no idea at this point which will come out." The Kansas
Wins! coalition wants to change its bill, which calls for casinos in Kansas
City, Kan., and southeast Kansas, as well as slots at horse and dog tracks
in Crawford, Sedgwick and Wyandotte counties, and in Dodge City if a track
is built and voters approve having slots there. Coalition spokesman Doug
Lawrence said the group now wants to have a casino rather than slots in
Dodge City and add Sumner and Sedgwick counties as areas where there could
be a casino. Sumner County voters in 2005 authorized a casino; Sedgwick
County voters would have until the end of the year to decide. Whatever
version emerges from the committee, supporters of the industry bill will try
to amend its provisions to whatever is being debated. "We're going to see to
it that the House has an opportunity to vote on the proposals we have on the
table," Lawrence said. He said by the fifth year, the industry bill would
generate some $800 million. The state would get about $200 million as its
share to fix buildings on college campuses, provide property tax relief,
bolster the state pension fund while giving a 3 percent cost-of-living
increase to retirees and providing money for general government programs.
Among those attending the committee hearing was Mark Goodrum, a Wellington
real estate developer who said he can drive from his hometown to an Oklahoma
casino in about a half hour. "We're looking at border wars. We're
outsourcing our money," he said. "The revenue is out there. There's no need
to give it to other states." In addition to the lottery and wagering on
horse and dog races, there are four American Indian casinos in northeast
Kansas. There also are gambling boats in Kansas City, Mo., and some two
dozen Indian casinos in Oklahoma less than an hour's drive from the state
line. Legislators routinely have rejected efforts to expand gambling, but
Lawrence said this year could be different. "This is the best year we've
had. It's finally sunk in to legislators that we have a billion dollar
gaming market sitting on our borders," he said.

House Majority Leader Ray Merrick gave even odds for a gambling bill
clearing his chamber. He said he is bothered by parts of the legislation.

"To me slots at the tracks are a nonstarter. I'm not here to bail them out,"
said Merrick, R-Stilwell. "I think all the money should go to the general
fund and let everyone get in line for the money."

The House holds the key this year. In past years, gambling bills started in
the Senate and died there, often after being expanded to the point that some
supporters backed off.