The Rural Democrat

Keeling says Bill for Slots is a Long Shot

Keeling sites polling that says Kentuckians want to vote on expanded gaming, but Stumbo seems to be on to something in regards to his claim that the General Assembly can approve slots without a constitutional amendment. Keeling also says that Stumbo's argument that slots can be classified as a common gambling device, like a lottery card, is ridiculous, so I guess Stumbo's argument may not work, even though it may be legal. But he brings up the a real important question; will the Kentucky horse industry survive?

In these hard economic times I can see why some people will damn the thought of expanded gambling but if we stand idle and do nothing, our racetracks will be history in a few short years. I will try and obtain some numbers, if those numbers are available, in regards to the number of folks leaving our tracks for more lucrative opportunities in states that have already approved slots at the tracks.    

Williams Attempting to Nullify the Need for a Higher Cigarette Tax

Senate President David Williams pulled a rabbit out of his hat last night and stunned the Democrats by proposing a statewide smoking ban. 

 I think this issue would be a great issue to poll, now, after Williams and the GOP proposes the very liberal idea of a statewide smoking ban. Does this change things in Kentucky? Is Williams trying to offer a trade? Or is this just a polite of saying that a higher cig tax is dead on the floor?

Tune in to Kentucky Tonight: Beshear, Stumbo and Williams

This should be fun; we have Governor Beshear, House Speaker Stumbo and Senate President Williams appearing on Kentucky Tonight with Bill Goodman, 8:00PM on KET.\

 I am sure slots at tracks will likely be the issue Williams will push tonight. Hopefully Beshear takes control and the issue of a higher cigarette and alcohol tax is the main issue of the night. We may do a little live blogging tonight, I am still recovering from a great AC/DC concert last night, last time we will see those guys, they are set to retire after this tour. I will post some media of that concert later.

Greg Stumbo is also Walking the Ethics Walk

I can't wait to read the spin on this one. House Speaker Greg Stumbo is asking the Legislative Ethics Commission to look in this personal business dealings just to make sure nothing is amiss. As you may recall (HERE) Governor Beshear has already strengthened ethics rules in the executive branch.

I think this is a positive sign that not only does Stumbo want to make sure everything is kosher, it is also a signal that he is dead serious about serving as House Speaker. He realizes that with a dark cloud hanging over your head nothing will get done and I think Stumbo is ready to get something done.

Exclusive: Rep.Rick Nelson Files Bill to Raise Alcohol Tax and a Freeze College Tuition

I guess I am not out of here yet. Rep. Rick Nelson has filed a bill to raise the alcohol tax in Kentucky and he also filed a bill to freeze collage tuition in Kentucky. We need this tax increase and we need, desperately, to freeze collage tuition. We need to support these bills vigorously, so we need to all get it together and support this legislation!

Nelson bills to raise alcohol tax, freeze college tuition 

FRANKFORT —Rep. Rick Nelson filed legislation this week to increase the state’s alcohol tax as well as freeze tuition for college students at public schools across the commonwealth. 

House Bill 166 would increase the wholesale tax on alcoholic beverages from 11 percent to 20 percent. Consumers would pay an extra 4 cents for each bottle of beer, while wine drinkers would see a $20 bottle increase to $21. 

“We can’t expect smokers to shoulder all the burden,” said Nelson, D-Middlesboro. “This would spread the responsibility to more Kentuckians so that no one group is affected unevenly.” 

Economists expect the bill to raise an extra $68 million in revenue. Currently alcohol taxes bring in $87 million annually. More than $7 million of the added revenue is earmarked for alcohol-related treatment and law enforcement. Among the planned distributions and groups benefiting are: 

• $1 million for regional comprehensive care centers across the state for alcohol-related education programs.
• $1 million for the Kentucky State Police to cover overtime pay and fund alcohol-related education programs.
• $1 million for Commonwealth Attorneys to pay employees, avoid furloughs and fund alcohol-related education programs.
• $1 million for County Attorneys to pay employees, avoid furloughs and fund alcohol-related education programs.
• $1 million for local jails to pay employees and operating expenses.
• $1.2 million for county sheriffs to fund alcohol-related programs.
• $1 million for grants to city police departments to fund alcohol-related programs and overtime.
• $100,000 to the Louisville Metro Police Department to fund alcohol-related programs and overtime.
• $75,000 to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Division of Police to fund alcohol-related programs and overtime.

 

“This money will help our local and state law enforcement groups to combat alcohol abuse in a number of ways,” Nelson said. “It’s more money to warn students of the dangers of drinking, more money for counseling and rehabilitation, more money to get drunk drivers off the road. It will also give our Commonwealth Attorneys and County Attorneys the ability to avoid the furloughs that could hinder their work in prosecuting criminals.” 

House Bill 159, meanwhile, would freeze tuition at all state universities, including the community and technical college system for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school year.  

“We’ve seen double–digit increases at some schools in the past decade,” Nelson said. “We’re pricing students out of a better future, and it can’t continue. Families need time to catch up to these costs, especially at a time when the economy is struggling.” 

Expanded Gaming will go the State Senate Say Hoover

Amazingly it appears that expanded gaming, slots at tracks, will pass the house, or so says the Minority Leader Jeff Hoover. I believe we have to secure the future of the horse racing industry in Kentucky, now. And I also believe the only way that will happen is to expanded the track's gaming operations. Other states are doing it as we speak.

But we are experiencing an economic recession, the public backlash could be.....

Rep. Rick Nelson Appointed Chair of Labor and Industry Committee, Moberly out as A&R chair

Good news for Eastern Kentucky, yet again. Rep.Rick Nelson of Bell and Harlan Counties was appointed Chair of the Labor and Industry Committee in the State House. It is a good thing to know that Nelson will be watching industry's back in these hard economic times and it is also a relief to know that coal will continue to get a fair shake in Kentucky with Nelson serving as chair. Now with the committee assignments done we can get to work. Other committee appointments included:

• Rick Rand, D-Bedford, Appropriations and Revenue Committee
• John Tilley, D-Hopkinsville, Judiciary Committee
• Carl Rollins, D-Midway, Education Committee
• Rick Nelson, D-Middlesboro, Labor and Industry Committee
• Jeff Greer, D-Brandenburg, Banking and Insurance Committee
• Dennis Keene, D-Wilder, Licensing and Occupations Committee
• Tom McKee, D-Cynthiana, Agriculture and Small Business Committee
• Tom Burch, D-Louisville, Health and Welfare Committee
• Ruth Ann Palumbo, D-Lexington Economic Development Committee
• Darryl Owens, D-Louisville, Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee
• Steve Riggs, D-Louisville, Local Government Committee
• Jim Gooch, D-Providence, Natural Resources Committee
• Tonya Pullin, D-South Shore, Seniors, Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee
• Mike Cherry, D-Princeton, State Government Committee
• Eddie Ballard, D-Madisonville, Tourism, Development and Energy Committee
• Hubert Collins, D-Whitinsville, Transportation Committee

Courtesy of Bluegrass Politics.

Kentucky Ciggarette Tax Poll

A new poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies sampled 500 Kentuckians asking them a montage of questions about the proposed cigarette tax increase in Kentucky. This poll proved what I have been saying all along; the so-called anti-tax right is actually wrong.

The survey of 500 registered Kentucky voters showed that 68 percent said they favor raising the cigarette tax to balance the state budget.

And 69 percent of those voters say they favor raising the cigarette tax by $1or 30 cents more than Gov. Steve Beshear’s current proposal to raise cigarette taxes by 70 cents. The poll showed that the tax increase had widespread support from Republican and Democrat voters alike.

Only 17 percent of those voters said they would not vote for a candidate who favors increasing the tobacco tax. Bluegrass Politics

I do not have any knowledge about the pollster or their methodology. But if this poll is only half-ass it shows the overwhelming support for an increase in our cigarette tax. What now Dave?

The Numbers: Current Kentucky Horse Industry Tax Breaks and Earmarks

Rep.Rick Nelson sent us a letter from the Legislative Research Commission or LRC outlining the tax incentives and earmarks the Kentucky Horse Industry will receive in 2009 and 2010. Patrick Neely, Executive Director of the Kentucky Equine Education Project, also known as KEEP, had outlined in a previous post (HERE) some tax information for the industry. 

It looks like the the Horse Industry does get quite a few tax breaks and earmarks from Frankfort. But how do these numbers compare to other equine states? I don't know, but does the equine industry need tens of millions in tax and incentives in these hard economic times? Or do these tax breaks and incentives keep our horse industry competitive? At this point, I would predict these numbers will receive a long hard look.

   On the second page of the LRC letter it shows the actual numbers .......

Exclusive: Patrick Neely From KEEP Responds to Horse Tax Proposal

I am always open to both sides of the story and I am happy to have received a response from Patrick Neely, Executive Director of the Kentucky Equine Education Project, also known as KEEP in regards to comments made by us here about possible horse industry tax loopholes.

Rep. Rick Nelson had proposed the possibility of closing certain loopholes in our tax law pertaining to the horse industry. This issue is a very complex issue.

Neely told The Rural Democrat ....