Kansas
Lawmakers Delay Bill Again
As reported by the Kansas City
Star: "Yet again, Kansas lawmakers have
delayed introducing a bill to expand state-run
gambling that would include a casino for Kansas
City, Kan.
"Leaders
in the Senate said last week they would take
the weekend to work out the kinks in the plan.
They are also working to ensure they have the
requisite 21 votes to pass the measure.
"Expanded
gambling is never a sure bet in the Kansas Legislature.
Bills to expand slot machines and casinos are
always proposed, only to be defeated by anti-gambling
lawmakers and competing gambling groups that
want to push their specific interests.
"This
year, with lawmakers under a court order to
increase school funding by $400 million to $500
million, the pressure to pass expanded gambling
is back. So are the challenges.
"…Lawmakers
who support the provision say they want to ensure
that all state-run gambling is free of corruption
or conflicts of interest among lawmakers. Opponents
of expanded gambling often raise the specter
of corruption as a reason to vote against gambling.
"…Senate
leaders have said for weeks that they wouldn't
introduce the bill unless they had 21 votes.
And week after week, the bill is delayed. Even
if a gambling proposal passes the Senate, it
faces another tough fight in the House, where
representatives are up for re-election. Some
lawmakers will be pressured to endorse gambling
for local economic development; others will
be pressured to vote against it…"
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