Saturday, March 17, 2007

House Federal and State Committee Chairman Arlen Siegfreid, R-Olathe, said
Wednesday that one way or the other, this year the chamber will debate
expanded gambling. This week, Siegfreid's committee is hearing from
supporters and opponents of three bills. One pushed by the gambling industry
calls for casinos and slot machines at pari-mutuel race tracks, another
allows casinos in counties that border out-of-state counties with a casino,
and the third allows state-owned and operated casinos. He hopes the
committee will have a bill ready next week. "If we fail to get a bill out of
here, you'll hear gaming on the floor," he said. "Someone will offer an
amendment and that'll set it off."