Final Update: Special Session – June 2009
Even with the General Assembly accomplishing three of the four tasks that Governor Beshear gave us, the one issue that was not settled was passage of the bill to allow slots at our home racetracks. To learn why we were not able to do this, just read any newspaper, watch any TV coverage or listen to any radio report. Supporters will lament that the blame is laid squarely at the jack boot of Senate President David Williams. I think we might be missing the bigger picture.
President Williams exercised total discretion over this bill because he has been allowed to amass and dominate the Senate’s power. It may be his undoing. Yes, he has his majority in the Senate, but as this vote on slots shows, there are (finally) Republicans who will buck him and not be dictated to. We have to find and support more Republicans with whom we can agree — ON THE ISSUES — and who have an independent streak. There was a group of Republicans who wanted to be on record for what they supported, not just going along with Dr. No to get along!
We also have to demand more political backbone out of our Dems in the Senate. House members constantly bemoan the fact that few of their colleagues stand up and are counted when it comes to countering the President. This is commonly known. Those who will stand up must also be supported.
Finally, this entire saga poignantly illustrates the wisdom of a political axiom I believe in: “There are no permanent enemies and no permanent friends…there are only permanent interests.”
As Kentuckians – be ye Dem, Repub or Inde; whether we be in the House, the Senate or the first floor of the Capitol; whether we live in small or large communities, West or East, mountain top or river bottom – we Kentuckians have to search out those permanent interests we share, boldly declare them and hold leadership accountable for being stumbling blocks or building blocks. Generations whose interests we are entrusted with demand, and deserve, nothing less.
We took up the clarion call of Governor Beshear in Special Session and delivered on 3 of the 4 issues he outlined for us.
1. Fix the state’s budget deficit of just under $1 Billion;
2. Provide a mechanism for moving forward with and paying for so called “Mega-Projects”;
3. Establish incentives for several major “shovel ready” economic development projects; and
4. Stop the hemorrhaging of hundreds of millions of Kentucky dollars flowing to neighboring states by establishing slots at Kentucky racetracks, and help save the horse industry.
Like UPS, we delivered. The only package whose delivery has been delayed is the one containing support for slots at race tracks. It must have been shipped by FedEx through Memphis!
Much vigorous, important policy debate was held in both chambers on the question of slots. Well, let me rephrase that. The policy debate that was allowed to be held in both chambers was vigorous and important. Hmmmm… Had the issue of slots been allowed to be debated in both chambers, there would have been a vigorous and important policy debate! That’s what I am trying to say.
I think you get the picture…. Here is what I think:
There is absolutely nothing that says our Commonwealth will and shall always be the Horse Capitol of the World! Nothing that requires it. We will continue to promote ourselves, and will continue to cry out loudly that we are, but there is no preordained scripture that says it shall be so! If we allow this industry to wither on the vine, whose fault is that?
We hear it all the time. “Pennsylvania is stealing our horses” or ”New York is trying to steal our breeding industry” — woe is me. “We’ve got to keep them from taking our signature industry.”
Bull hockey. No one is stealing anything! You can no more blame Pennsylvania, or New York or Florida or Louisiana for making their progress at Kentucky’s expense than you can blame the automobile industry for destroying the buggy and the buggy whip industries; or blame the railroad and the steel industry for the demise of the stagecoach, or blame coal and electricity for sinking the whale oil industry. Such is the nature of capitalism. It has happened untold numbers of times. It will happen again.
If we allow our leaders to be stumbling blocks instead of building blocks for securing the health of our horse industry, or our children’s education, our seniors care and safety or whatever the issues are that we as citizens of this Commonwealth have declared to be our common values, shame on us! When the people lead, the leaders will follow.
Imagine this: senators representing the farms, the workers, the tracks, the businesses that supply the industry, the veterinarians– senators representing suppliers of tack and feed, whose constituents are the town café owners, trainers, hot walkers and grooms, the stud doctors (for lack of another PC term!), these officials who are supposed to be advocates for these interests were led by a leader who made them vote AGAINST their constituents in order to curry his political favor.
Rather than stand around wringing our hands about what David Williams did or did not do, what the tracks will or will not do, whether the dollars would or would not have stopped flowing out of Kentucky, let us consider doing three (3) things:
1. Let the leaders of this state know each of you is paying attention! Whether the issue is funding for agencies, projects, programs or businesses that are important to you and to your family, PAY ATTENTION! Ask questions. Demand credible answers. Get others involved. Kentuckians are known to have more social capita than most other states. USE IT!
2. Learn the facts and become a knowledgeable advocate for the issues that are important to you. We heard all manner of tales about how well off things are in Tennessee, for example. Maybe we should eliminate our income tax, too! The fact is, Tennessee is in worse financial shape than we are and has a $1.2 billion budget deficit. Their fiscal problem is greater than ours! You would not have known it from some of the discussion in the House. Here is another example. Charitable gaming produces more revenue than does horse racing. Yet, people act as if we do not already have gaming in many churches, fundraisers for little league, and bingo throughout the state. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!
3. “LEAD, FOLLOW or GET OUT OF THE WAY.” Make your voice heard when you have the opportunity. Some of my colleagues have a true conviction against gaming. Others found it in their hearts to take a tough vote, one way or the other, despite what may be political risks. But you would not believe how many took this vote on slots based on a fear of getting an opponent in the next election and possibly being unelected. Do not get me wrong; I understand this. I know all politics is local. And you cannot ride if you are not in the saddle. But I firmly believe most of you sent us here to make decisions that will move the entire state forward! LF or GOTW.
As always, I solicit your thoughts and opinions. Call me directly at 502.564.8100 or write me at Rm. 329C, Capitol Annex, 702 Capitol Avenue, Frankfort, KY 40601. To reach any particular legislator, contact our toll-free number at 800.372.7181. For the deaf or hard-of-hearing, that number is 800.896.0305. Please pray for the safety and success of President Obama and his family.
