Kentucky General Assembly: Damned if they Do and Damned if they Don't

The Family Foundation always seems to be a thorn in the ass and the poison in the belly that slows progress in Kentucky, either by spreading their hate via the Kentucky Citizen or standing on their hypocritical stump preaching against gambling in Kentucky. The Family Foundation has teamed up, as always, with Say No to Casinos to spread the word of GOD and to stop Vito Corleone from making Kentucky his home.

I thought this country was built on the foundation of, We the People, not we the Kentucky General Assembly. When an issue of such polarity such as a constitutional amendment for and or against casino gaming is being debated; it is in the best interest of the members of the Kentucky General Assembly to listen to the people.

We know these right wingers only use the Constitution when it suits them. They seem to have no problem distorting the spirit of our Constitution by making the ridiculous suggestion that Kentucky Lawmakers should ignore the people's voice. Of course they are following the wingnut rule of comparing everything to the evil land of California, now we wait to hear how casinos will make every woman between the ages of 18 and 25 become abortion robots.

More amazingly is the fact that these two hacks, pun intended, John Mark Hack from Say No to Casinos and, of course, the Family Foundation's Ken Ostrander say the people have no voice in this matter.

From Pol Watchers

Say No to Casinos organization chairman John-Mark Hack and Family Foundation executive director Kent Ostrander said lawmakers are misinterpreting the state constitution if they believe that their votes to amend the commonwealth's guiding legal document represent "letting the people decide."

"There is no let-the-people-decide-cop-out option," Hack said at a press conference in the rotunda.

I seem to remember an opposite argument for the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage back in 2004.

From the Bluegrass Report (Tuesday, March 21, 2006)

First, it was audaciously hypocritical to listen to Ostrander -- the man who led charge in 2004 to give the voters the option of amending the state's constitution to ban gay marriage -- argue that those same voters ought not have that same right on this issue. In 2004, Ostrander said this about the gay marriage amendment:

"This was just a single issue that we tossed out there to the people of Kentucky to let them wrestle with," Ostrander said.

How to you interpret that? I think it is called being a hypocrite. If the press gives these two any ink, they better mention their hypocritical form of politics.

From the Bluegrass Report (Tuesday, March 21, 2006)

This morning, Jim Navolio, the Executive Director of the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), e-mailed me about last night's show and during a back and forth about the issue (I am not a member of KEEP and have only met Jim in passing a few times) he mentioned that Hack had first approached KEEP in the summer of 2004 about being hired to do its public relations work, but was not selected.

I guess he, Hack,  saw GOD and changed his ways. Bullshit.

Comments

John-Mark Hack is a well-known Democrat operative. He was Paul Patton's director of Agricultural Policy and was responsible for implementing the buyout program in Kentucky. He's no right-winger.

He is if he is working with the Family Foundation. Wingnut merc not an operative for this Democratic party. Patton was a dem by geographical necessity.

Ask Rick Nelson how much of a dem Patton was! Patton and another so called dem raised money for his Republican opponent a few years back.

I hope this is the best the casino opposition can muster! I am sure these arrogant asses will insist on leading the charge. I hope so, we cant lose!

8:51
Involvement with a hate group like the family foundation cancels your dem pass.

Come on Shack KEEP has greatly changed since Hack sought their business. KEEP has been highjacked by Brer Jones and the casino boys and I guess it's just coincidence that KEEP just had a record 4 million dollar fundraiser---SHAZAAM said Gomer. These guys are not going to get their wish not this time anyway.

Casino types have been mixed up the horsy bunch for 15 years. KEEP is and has been about the purse. Hack's motivation;

"The groups' opposition to casinos is rooted in historical corruption that accompanied lotteries and gambling."

Gambling! KEEP has been and always will be influenced by Gambling. He is a hired gun and exposed as a hypocrite.

[Shack]

I agree to an extent that KEEP has shifted toward a casino dream over the past 10 years, not just 4. I would not call it hijacked, Jones wants to lead KEEP in a new direction and it looks like it is working.

[KEEP was formed in 2004 not 10 yrs ago]

Shack, Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) is a dba of Kentucky Equine Education Alliance Inc.,

KEEP first filed with the Ky. Secretary of state May 19, 2004.

Kentucky Equine Education Alliance Inc. filed with the state April 16, 2004
.. (Hardly 10 years ago as you must think)

KEEP did not let it's casino interest become public knowledge until late 2005. Their interest in casino money only became evident in February 2006 when KEEP asked for legislation to be drafted giving the horse industry 64% of the casino proceeds.

KEEP has not been forthcoming with their own personal, private agenda.

I think the people should vote for casinos but I don't think the voters should vote until they know the truth about both the pros and cons - so they can decide for themselves if the pros outweigh the cons.

Otherwise, if voters are not told both the pros & cons then ... the voters will just be getting conned by the horse and casino industry who have together pumped millions of dollars into the kentucky democratic party.

[KEEP hides its agenda]

KEEP is so ... secretive about their interest in casino money and casino interest that even today, on their website there is NO mention of casino gambling in their Mission Statement.

Also there is no mention of casino gambling mentioned in their Goals, or Key Intiatives section of their website.

Just out of curiousity, how many Kentucky voters know that a Bill was in the General Assembly in 2006 granting KEEP 64% of the casino proceeds? My guess is less than 1% of the voters have any knowledge of that fact. Why is that?

Why doesn't KEEP mention they are trying to pass casino gambling on their website?

No wonder Mr. Hack didn't know KEEP was about casino gambling -- KEEP keeps that fact pretty well hidden.

[KEEP is untrustworthy]

One more thing about KEEP and it's hidden casino agenda.

I just got back on their website and did a search of their website and typed in:
1. casino ... results NO MATCH.

2. gaming ... results NO MATCH.

3. casino proceeds ... results NO MATCH.

That is too weird.

Whether you are pro gambling casinos or not it is WEIRD that KEEP, who wants 64% of casino proceeds, does NOT mention word one about their opinions on casinos, gaming or casino proceeds on their website anywhere. Their silence on their website is BIZARRE and totally untrustworthy.

Yes, my opinion, they are hiding their true agenda and masking their agenda on their website.

[KEEP wants 64% of casino money]

to 12:31. The National Thoroughbred Racehorcing Association published the below quote on 11/9/2007. I doubt the National Thoroughbred Racehorcing Association is going to lie about KEEP wanting 64% of casino proceeds.

"One of the principal players in horse-industry lobbying is the Kentucky Equine Education Project, which was formed in 2004 and two years later presented a bill to the legislature that would give the racing industry 64 percent of an estimated $1.2 billion in casino proceeds. The chairman of the organization, Brereton Jones, is a horse breeder and former Kentucky governor."

Now you have the National Thoroughbred Association's quote on the 64% KEEP wanted the horse industry to get from a Bill that was voted on in 2006. You go find the Bill - I don't have time.

[KEEP wants 64% of casino money]

oh, btw: in case you can't figure out how to find the quote from the National Thoroughbred Association, here's the link:

http://www.ntra.com/content.aspx?type=stateleg&id=29433

Let's hope Brereton Jones runs KEEP cleaner than he does American Founders Bank or Neely may never work again.

[Frankfort Gal]

Shack whatever happened to that car tax us voters repealed a while back? Funny how this voter say so crap really works. And This Is America is selling a much worse meat than spam.

[KEEP IS the horse industry DUH!!!]

to the Frustrated person at 2:43 ... do you know WHO the Kentucky Equine Educational Project are? THEY ARE KEEP ... They ARE the horse industry! DHUHHHH!!!!!!

Now read what they, KEEP, wanted: "the Kentucky Equine Education Project, [KEEP] which was formed in 2004 and two years later presented a bill to the legislature that would give the racing industry 64 percent of an estimated $1.2 billion in casino proceeds."

That is 64% to the horse industry! To KEEP! NOT TO EDUCATION. NOT TO HEALTH CARE. NOT TO ANY THING EXCEPT THE HORSE INDUSTRY WHICH IS KEEP YOU DOUGH-DOUGH!!!

[KEEPing the voters in the dark]

I am guessing that the Frustrated poster at 2:43 IS a pro casino poster.

From the question above at 12:04:
"Just out of curiousity, how many Kentucky voters know that a Bill was in the General Assembly in 2006 granting KEEP 64% of the casino proceeds? My guess is less than 1% of the voters have any knowledge of that fact. Why is that?"

From reading the rantings of the Frustrated poster, it's pretty clear he/she had NO CLUE that KEEP pushed for a LAW the declared the horse industry to get 64% of the casino proceeds in 2006 ... and appears to NOT know who or what KEEP is.

I'll tell you the one thing politicians LOVE MORE than money ... an uninformed voter.

Uninformed on how much casino money the horse industry is demanding and uninformed the horse industry is even demanding money.

So much for casino money curing Kentucky's education & health care woes. HA HA HA...

KEEP the voters in the dark and let them vote for casinos.

I agree with the posters who say, let the people vote on casinos AFTER the government has informed the voters on both pros & cons

-- these politicians cannot be trusted!

The people have a right to know.

[horse industry should NOT get casino proceeds]

Dear uninformed at 4:41 -

NO! the horse industry should NOT get a portion of the tax revenue generated by casinos NO!

Even if the casinos were on the track's grounds NO -- the horse industry should NOT get a percentage of the tax revenue from the casinos.

The track can get their profit the same way all other corporations in this state get their profits ... you know, from what's left over AFTER paying taxes!!!

Isn't it odd that the governor is saying that the casino money would pay for education and healthcare but he's forgetting to tell us the huge percentage the horse industry will get or wants?

The tax money generated from casino TAX dollars - as is the case with all TAXES - is the PEOPLE's money. NOT the track's money.

BTW: Many racetrack presidents and track executives in Kentucky do NOT want casinos AT the track. They want casinos OFF their track ... but ... they want 64% of the casino proceeds.

You really should become better informed. Too bad you might cast your vote on something you are completely uninformed on.

Do you think the horse industry & casino industry has pumped millions into the kentucky democratic party so THEY can benefit -- leaving the PEOPLE uninsured and uneducated?

Now why don't you go to KEEP website and read all about them and their equine education program ... because you sure won't read on their website about the 64% that THEIR BILL, in 2006, asked to get from the casino proceeds.

[John-Mark Hack]

Uninformed and unhealthy

Dear Shack (???):

It's cowardly to post things in a completely unaccountable way. That said, I was encouraged when the e-mail I received after registering with your blog indicated its purpose is "to promote a healthy conversation about policy and politics." I love irony.

From your writing, it seems you may not be clear on what the word "liberal" means. Here are a couple of things that might be helpful to you:

- I'm a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Costa Rica, 92-94) (by the way, have you served your country Shack?)
- I spent 5 1/2 years as a top official in the Governor's Office during the Patton Administration. The program I started was recently recognized by the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard as one of the 50 most innovative governmental programs in the country.
- I had no involvement whatsoever in the marriage amendment debate.
- My entire life has been committed to service to others, especially people in disadvantaged communities and situations.
- My convictions about expanded gambling were formed when the lottery was passed in KY, and have never wavered since then. My opposition is based on the fact of its fundamental unfairness as a means of providing revenue for government.

Your unwillingness to verify your posting, like that of Mark Nickolas before you, is indicative of an unfortunate and gutless way of transmitting information about people. I'd be glad to give you the truth behind your misleading post if you'd like to get it. Courage is healthy after all.

I admire your goal "to promote a healthy conversation about policy and politics" Perhaps you may want to verify what you post about individuals before you post it though. That approach seems "healthier" to me.

Finally, your joke/pun about my last name is really, really clever. You truly have a razor wit. I haven't heard that before..."hack" vs. "Hack"...it's really hilarious. Nice job.

I wish you well on your blog. It's certain that we need to do all we can "to promote a healthy conversation about policy and politics." In the event you read books, I have several that you might want to peruse to figure out where the word "liberal" fits in the gambling debate.

JM