Friday, June 25, 1999
Ky. gambling advocate retreats
Issue big for next session
BY JANE PRENDERGAST and PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FRANKFORT — Just as Kentucky's debate over gambling is about to heat up between the governor and the state's Catholic Conference, the leading proponent of video lottery terminals at racetracks jumped out of the fray Thursday.
Sen. Tim Shaughnessy, a Louisville Democrat, said he was “setting my priorities straight” by announcing he would no longer lead the charge for any kind of gambling when the General Assembly convenes in January.
An advocate of electronic slot machines for several years, he tried to gather some of the state's racetracks behind legislation two years ago that would have allowed the Kentucky Lottery to install terminals at racetracks.
“This is an issue that needs to be debated,” Mr. Shaughnessy said. “And if there is a bill that is introduced on gambling, I will vote yes or no based on the merits of the legislation. But I am going to withdraw from the debate because I think we've lost our focus about what's important in this state and spent too much time talking about gambling.”
Church rethinking
Mr. Shaughnessy, who is Catholic, said his decision had nothing to do with his church's growing opposition to gambling.
But his announcement came the same day the Catholic Conference of Kentucky issued a paper to be published on newspapers' editorial pages. It tries to explain the church's anti-gambling stance in light of its many bingo games and other fund-raising gambling.
The state's Catholic leaders and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association are to meet next week with Gov. Paul Patton to talk about gambling. The governor has proposed that the state study the possibility of putting a dozen or more casinos in hotels as ways to help boost tourism. Some of the casinos' proceeds, he suggests, would go to the horse racing industry.
Church gambling takes place on a much smaller scale than casinos would, Catholic Conference Executive Director Jane Chiles said, and its proceeds help charities. And, she said, the church is trying to wean itself from gambling in favor of more dependable money sources.
“As Kentucky debates the expansion of gambling,” Ms. Chiles said, “the church can be a voice of reason and experience in its call to reject this fool's gold.”
No big deal?
Former Turfway Park owner Jerry Carroll, who fought for lottery terminals for years as a way to help boost the track financially, said Mr. Shaughnessy's decision didn't matter “a hill of beans.”
In spite of the vocal opposition to gambling from the Catholics, Mr. Carroll said his research shows the general public isn't very interested in the issue at the moment. He supports Mr. Patton's attempt to find new revenue, but said he does not think the state has a “shot in the world of getting it done.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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