An alerting e-mail notice was dispersed across the state, in which the Lexington-based Kentucky Council of Churches asked its members to get in touch with the General Assembly and make sure they oppose any casino-related legislation. In the 2005 legislative session, four casino gambling bills have been submitted and Kentucky has once again faced a trial of casino gambling legalization.
Some of the Kentucky governmental circles, anticipating the downfalls that would amount to billions of dollars, tend to accept the casino proliferation plan as an immediate answer to the budget shortage. The Council of Churches, on whose record there are quite a few rigorous fights with casino legislation, maintained that Kentucky will only gain harmful outcomes, leading to even greater social ailments, squeezing additional money from the state. Instead, he expressed his support for the tax system, saying that it is just, fair and will not impact negatively on families with lower income or on a family life in general. In his opinion gambling is not the solution that will redeem Kentucky from the fiscal plight but can only worsen the situation.
In response, the Rev. Nancy Jo Kemper fired that the chance to achieve the equitable tax modernization and meet the standards is nearly impossible. The president of Turfway Park in Florence, Bob Elliston is one of the casino supporters who claimed that Kentucky is quite familiar with gambling as it is, with popularized state lottery and racetracks wagering. Though he admits the existence of gambling related problems, nevertheless, he points out to some positive aspects such as local services, programs and increased dollars to pay for state.
|
| Source: gamblingsmart news writer
|
Monday, 7 February 2005 |