Oklahoma racing bill dies

Ron Jenkins

Monday, June 2, 2003 | 9:52 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The 2003 Oklahoma Legislature adjourned Friday as a budget fight fizzled and time ran out on a bill to expand Indian casino-type gambling to horse racetracks.

Gov. Brad Henry, giving the session a B-plus grade, said he was unsure a special session will be needed. "I think everybody needs a break -- surely four months is enough," he said.

The Legislature was required to adjourn by 5 p.m. and did so.

House leaders said time constraints precluded them from taking up a Senate-passed bill designed to bail out the horse race industry by allowing pari-mutuel tracks to operate electronic gaming devices similar to those at Indian casinos.

"We ran out of time to discuss and debate the bill," said Rep. Larry Rice, D-Pryor, majority leader. He also said the bill was several votes short of the number needed for passage.

Proponents said the bill would have produced almost $40 million in revenue for the state, including $30 million from Indian casinos that now are not taxed.

The bill was strongly opposed by Republican members of the House.

Henry said discussions will continue with tribal leaders on tobacco and gaming compacts.

"We have a vast industry out there, an unregulated industry," he said.

Earlier in the session, Henry won over some GOP defectors in the House to pass a bill calling for a vote of the people on a state-run lottery. That was a mainstay of his legislative program, along with balancing the budget.

He said passage of the lottery was a victory for education and praised lawmakers for approving a zero-based budgeting bill and a measure placing restrictions on medical malpractice lawsuits.