LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: February 18, 2008

by State Representative Addia Wuchner

To the nation, he is known as "The Great Emancipator" and preserver of the Union .

Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday on Feb. 12, 2009 will be celebrated from now until Feb. 12, 2010. Hundreds of events will be held across the Commonwealth and the United States , honoring Lincoln 's political legacy. Many Americans do not know that President Lincoln had another title - he was a Kentuckian. The Illinois lawyer turned American President made, this fact clear in a draft of an 1861 speech, in which he wrote, "I, too, am a Kentuckian."

Last Tuesday members of the Kentucky General Assembly convened at the Old State Capitol to kick off the national bicentennial celebration of the birth of native Kentuckian and 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.

During Lincoln 's presidency, Kentucky never voted to secede from the Union . Legislators of the period debated the divisive issue in the Old Capital.

House Bills 550 and 537 could well prove to be the most divisive issues in the 2008 Session. As Governor Steve Beshear unveiled his proposed casino gambling legislative package, HB 550 was filed to vote as an amendment to the Kentucky Constitution, permitting casino gambling in our Commonwealth. Filed simultaneously was HB 537. Known as the enabling legislation, HB 537 would dictate the number of casino locations, as well as the application and licensure processes for casino establishment. It would also regulate how revenue generated from gaming would be distributed.

Friday morning, the halls of the Capitol were a buzz. Folks gathered in corners, inquiring of each other as to how they were going to vote on the proposal. The question that everyone is asking is, “Do you think they have the votes?”

On my 2008 Legislative Survey, I included a question concerning expanded gaming legislation. This survey was mailed to approximately 2300 randomly chosen households in the 66 th House District. I later posted the survey on my website. Thank you to all who participated in the survey, as it provides feedback from my community. Many of you took additional time to express your views in detail. I read these contributions and greatly appreciate your responses.

I would like to share responses to the gaming question, and will post remaining survey responses in next week's update.

Should the General Assembly enact legislation that would place a constitutional amendment on the 2008 ballot regarding the establishment of up to 12 casinos throughout Kentucky ?

YES 39% NO 51% UNSURE 5% NO ANSWER 5%

While home this past weekend, I received two distinct messages from the public concerning expanding gaming; approximately 63 % opposed expanded gaming, and 37 % were open to a constitutional amendment vote, but with reservations as to the number and location of casinos. Some strongly prefer a local referendum. Another concern was the distribution of revenue. Most favor more monies staying within the local communities.

The devil is in the details, folks. There are many questions yet to be answered in the days ahead. Should a final version of either HB 550 or HB 537 survive the committee process for a full vote, the final executed legislation will surely differ from the original draft. I will keep you posted.

Yesterday, we welcomed the Boone County Youth Cabinet to Frankfort , and provided them with an overview of our legislative responsibilities. The Boone County Youth Cabinet “BCYC” was established to train youth in leadership, public responsibility, decision-making, and public policy.

We have six weeks remaining in this session, and still have a budget to solidify. I anticipate that the temperature will increase in the upcoming days. I will continue to keep you updated on our legislative progress.