Gambling coalition seeks bill changes / LJWorld.com

Archive for Tuesday, March 13, 2007

By Carl Manning - Associated Press Writer

March 13, 2007

Topeka — 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 would 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 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 and bolster the state pension fund while giving a 3 percent cost-of-living increase to retirees and providing money for general government programs.