SCR = "Sorta Chip Related"

Something is taking place in Kansas that I never thought I would ever see. One of the two bodies of our state legislature, Kansas House of Representatives, has *initially* approved a bill that would allow voters in four Kansas counties to vote on wheter of not they want to have a "destination casino." It still has to get past the Kansas Senate abd the Governor so we'll see what happens. I am not holding my breath!

Cheers!
Bill

House gives initial approval to slots and casinos
BY RON SYLVESTER
The Wichita Eagle

TOPEKA -Sedgwick County and three other counties could gain destination casinos if their voters authorize them, under a bill that gained initial approval early Saturday in the Kansas House.

The 65-50 vote came at 2:34 a.m., after more than 12 hours of debate. Final approval is expected Monday.

The bill would also allow voter approval of slot machines at racetracks, including Wichita Greyhound Park near Park City.

The measures were contained in amendments to a Senate bill permanently authorizing the Kansas Lottery.

The Kansas Expanded Lottery Act was originally a single, 98-page amendment. But legislators decided to debate its provisions separately, eventually passing it in four parts.

The debate included more than 50 offered amendments -- many of which failed -- dozens of speeches and two references to "Star Trek." Many of the amendments were offered by gambling opponents who were trying to kill the bill.

Measures approved would allow voters in four areas to allow destination casinos: Sedgwick County, Wyandotte County, Cherokee or Crawford counties, and Ford County. A later amendment would allow Sumner County to vote on a casino if Sedgwick County voters defeated it.

Such casinos would sign 15-year contracts at investments of more than $200 million each.

The act would also add 2,200 slot machines at pari-mutuel race tracks across the state and require counties to hold a vote to authorize those machines.

The provisions gave the Kansas Lottery and Racing and Gaming Board ultimate control of the casinos in a package negotiated by a bipartisan group of legislators earlier this week.

One of the most spirited debates Friday came on whether to allow alcohol to be served in the casinos.

Rep. Paul Davis, R-Lawrence, likened serving alcohol to buying popcorn at a movie or a hot dog at a baseball game.

"It's part of the experience," he said.

That brought sharp criticism from Rep. Anthony Brown, R-Eudora.

"I fix popcorn for my kids while we're watching a movie at home, but I don't fix them a mixed drink and sit back and watch them enjoy it," he said. "Why? Because there's a difference."

The alcohol measure passed 69-50.

The debate stalled again just before 6 p.m., as Lance Kinzer, R-Olathe, began reading verbatim a gambling study that had been cited by both sides throughout the day. He stopped without finishing at 6:30.

Shortly afterward, Rep. Arlen Siegfreid, R-Olathe, announced the voting could be hastened because his caucus had finished preparing its amendments.

"This isn't a stall tactic," Rep. Kasha Kelley, R-Arkansas City, told the House. "We haven't had the time we need to break down and digest this 98-page bill."

The casinos would be operated under contract with the Kansas Lottery and would require authorization by county voters and by the state's racing and gaming commission.

Revenue from the casinos would be shared with state and local governments. Two percent, or about $17 million a year, would go to social service programs to help with alcohol, gambling and other addictions associated with the industry.

The lottery bill being amended has already been passed by the Senate. But an amended bill would require negotiation in a House-Senate conference committee and then new approvals by both chambers, as well as the governor's signature.

The lottery bill and its amendments require only simple majorities to pass.

House members did approve, on a 106-16 vote, a measure creating a legislative study group on gambling.

Earlier Friday, the House voted 74-50 in favor of a constitutional amendment that would allow privately run casinos in the state, 10 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed for final passage. The House expects a final vote Monday.

"The reason to go for the constitutional amendment is because you don't need the state in the casino business," said Rep. Mario Goico, R-Wichita. "We'd be the only state in the nation which owns and runs the casinos."

From http://www.kansas.com/197/story/27662.html Saturday, March 24th, 2007