LJWorld.com / Kerr sees no benefits in expanded gambling

Archive for Wednesday, February 11, 2004

J-W Staff Reports

February 11, 2004

Topeka — Senate President Dave Kerr, participating in his first online chat Tuesday, criticized Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' proposed budget and said expanded gambling would produce little if any new revenue for the state.

Kerr, a Hutchinson Republican, fielded a broad range of questions during the 30-minute live chat on World Online at www.ljworld.com.

In response to a question about Sebelius' proposed 3 percent pay raise for state employees, Kerr said Sebelius' budget proposal would take funding for the pay increase from agency fees that traditionally don't go to the state general revenue fund.

"People should know that if they get that pay raise, that the source of the money for the pay raise may well be taking money from funds that don't even belong to the state," Kerr said.

Kerr also said Sebelius' plan to expand gambling to include video lottery, slot machines at racetracks and possibly six top-class casinos would not produce long-term revenue. People will simply spend their disposable income on gambling instead of other forms of entertainment, he said.

"It's not a new source of money that simply creates something that isn't here today. It just changes the way that money is being spent and gives the state government another way to tax it," he said.

Kerr also said the Legislature would push for an early appeal of a lower court ruling that declared the school finance system unconstitutional. A current bill before lawmakers would speed up an appeal of the case to the Kansas Supreme Court.

House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, will participate in an online chat Feb. 26.