Saturday, 1 March 2008
SS Titanic Lists Out of Port
« No Excuse Too Small | Main | Time To Grab Your Wallets »After stacking the deck in the committee, the speaker of the house Comrade Richards was able to get his version of the casino bill out of committee. Now it heads to the floor where the votes don't exist to pass the amendment. They need 60 votes for it to pass and according to Wilkey, the house whip, there are just over 50 votes for the amendment.
Rep. Rob Wilkey, D-Scottsville, the House majority whip, estimated just over 50 representatives would vote to allow nine casinos with no licenses set aside for racetracks.
"I'm not sure that you can muster the next 10," he said. "I think that its fate is in serious jeopardy."
House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, said the amendment would not be called for a vote on the House floor until he believes it has at least 62 votes.
Gov. Steve Beshear said he'll be working through the weekend and into next week to find support in the House.
I seriously doubt they will get the 10 votes they need for it to be brought to a vote. First, I don't think there is a good deal of enthusiasm in rural Kentucky for casino gambling. As such state legislators don't want to stick their neck on the line for it. The split in the Democratic leadership is providing all the cover necessary. The strong arm tactics and lack of explicit protection for the horse industry provides ample cover for those who don't really want to vote for it.
I imagine they will be able to do enough arm twisting to get in the high 50's, but I don't think they will be able to bully enough Republicans into supporting it. So while the SS Titanic has finally made it out of port, it is listing wildly and on the verge of sinking before it even gets to the ice berg in the Senate.
