Kansas legislators reject gambling bill

Bill Draper

Friday, April 30, 2004 | 9:05 a.m.

TOPEKA, Kan. -- By a large margin, the Senate on Thursday rejected legislation to expand gambling in Kansas.

Afterward, Majority Leader Lana Oleen said she does not anticipate the issue coming up again this year.

Senators who supported the bill blamed the defeat on a contentious provision -- which opponents refused to delete -- allowing slot machines at bowling alleys and similar recreational businesses.

The Senate earlier Thursday gave the bill tentative approval, but supporters knew then the odds of passage weren't very good. The final vote was 26-14 against it.

"The message was pretty clear," said Oleen, R-Manhattan, who voted against the bill.

Sen. Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, who voted for the bill, said he doubted the matter would be debated again before legislators complete the wrapup session that began Wednesday. But there's an outside possibility, he noted.

"Gambling's like a vampire -- it's never really dead," Schmidt said.

The measure included the heart of a proposal from Gov. Kathleen Sebelius: up to five large state-owned casinos, slot machines at dog and horse racing tracks, and up to five slots at each of the state's 240 fraternal and veterans' halls.

But it exceeded Sebelius' plan by also allowing slot machines at bowling alleys and other businesses that participate in the state's Club Keno game.

"The bill goes beyond what the governor envisioned for gambling in Kansas," said Matt All, Sebelius' chief counsel. "We believe local communities should have the ability to create jobs and attract tourists through gaming."

He said he wasn't sure the proposal will come up again, even next year.

Senators twice rejected efforts to remove bowling alleys from the bill, as well as another amendment reducing the maximum number of casinos to three.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, said keeping bowling alleys in the bill was an attempt by gambling opponents to make the measure too broad and ensure its defeat.

Other senators agreed.

"Opponents managed to dirty it up so much that it got really ugly," Schmidt said.

But Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville, said during the Senate's debate that the proposal would come with high social costs, including increased addiction and crime.

"We will be taking money from the families in Kansas that can least afford this habit," Journey said. "We can't tax our way to prosperity, nor can we gamble our way to prosperity."

Sen. Pete Brungardt, R-Salina, argued that Kansans already are gambling, either outside of the state or at one of the four tribal casinos in Kansas. He said the state's residents -- not politicians -- should decide how they want to spend their money.

"It's the fabric of our life. People do it today," he said. "That's a choice people should be able to make. Gambling is simply a tool, something that serves as a catalyst to our goals to increase the tourism business."