LJWorld.com / Sebelius gambling plan goes before committee

Archive for Wednesday, February 11, 2004

By Bill Draper - Associated Press Writer

February 11, 2004

Topeka — A Senate committee got its first look Tuesday at Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' expanded gambling initiative, opening what likely will be a long, acrimonious battle.

Matt All, Sebelius' chief counsel, briefed the Federal and State Affairs Committee on the plan for as many as five large state-owned casinos, 2,500 video lottery machines spread among Kansas' five pari-mutuel tracks and five video lottery machines at each of 240 halls operated by fraternal organizations.

A seven-member commission would study proposals from casino developers and choose which to approve. The governor would appoint three commission members and name the chairman, and the leaders of the two parties in the House and Senate would each appoint one member.

Sen. Kay O'Connor, R-Olathe, suggested that such an arrangement could produce a commission chosen to fit the governor's views.

"The governor would always have a 5-2 vote, plus name the chair," O'Connor said. "Why not just give all the authority to the governor?"

All said many of the details in Sebelius' plan were negotiable, including the makeup of the commission.

He estimated the state would receive about $60 million a year from video lottery machines at the pari-mutuel tracks and $30 million from a single large casino.

Another selling point of the gambling plan is local control, which All said would ensure that a proposed casino was a good fit for a community. Any casino authorized by the commission would be subject to a countywide vote.

Communities with a casino could receive up to 4 percent of the gambling revenues under Sebelius' plan.

Committee Chairman Pete Brungardt, R-Salina, said in an interview that expanded gambling was gaining momentum, in part because of the state's financial condition and partly because lawmakers are learning that many of their constituents already gamble.

But Brungardt said a hearing on the bill scheduled for Thursday probably would be postponed until next week. He said he expected numerous amendments to the measure before it passes out of committee.