LJWorld.com / Administration backtracks on casino

Archive for Saturday, January 17, 2004

Governor ‘still working’ on gambling proposal, despite aide’s assertion to legislative committee

By John Hanna - Associated Press Writer

January 17, 2004

Topeka — Gov. Kathleen Sebelius declined Friday to confirm that she would recommend the state open and operate a casino in Wyandotte County.

Sebelius' chief counsel, Matt All, told a Senate committee earlier in the week that the governor would soon submit a recommendation for a large, state-owned casino in western Wyandotte County.

But Sebelius said Friday she was still working on her proposal for expanded gambling in Kansas.

"I'm making the policy decisions as we're formulating it," she said at a news conference. Asked why she would favor the state -- rather than an Indian tribe -- as the owner of a such casino, Sebelius replied, "I haven't told you what's in the bill."

The Kansas Constitution makes no provision for private casino ownership, leaving only the state or one of the four Indian tribes in the state as possible owners.

All said later Friday that if he suggested to senators that Sebelius was leaning toward a particular option, "I misspoke."

"There are a variety of options," All said. "We're looking at them."

Sebelius favors expanding gambling to provide revenue for the state. A task force she appointed last year recommended permitting a large casino in Wyandotte County, slot machines at dog and horse tracks and video lottery machines in halls operated by fraternal and veterans' groups.

Two tribes with casinos in northeast Kansas -- the Kickapoo and the Sac and Fox -- have proposed opening a $175 million gambling complex in Wyandotte County. All said negotiations between the state and the two tribes were ongoing.