FRANKFORT — Both sides in the debate over expanding gambling in Kentucky have set in motion plans to influence state lawmakers.

        Citizens Against Gambling Expansion (CAGE) announced Tuesday it will use a newsletter, e-mail and a Web site — www.kycouncilofchurches.org — to inform its members and churches across the state about where legislators stand on the issue and to provide the latest news on the subject.

        “Our task with this system will be to pass on information that is useful to the ministries and social witness of Kentucky churches,” said CAGE member the Rev. Nancy Jo Kemper during a State Capitol press conference Tuesday.

        “We can sort our churches by a legislator's district or members of a particular committee,” said Ms. Kemper, executive director of the Kentucky Council of Churches, which claims 800,000 members.

        The horse-racing industry is pushing lawmakers to approve the installation of electronic slot machines known as Video Lottery Terminals, or VLTs, as a way to compete against casinos.

        Several lobbyists from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Keeneland in Lexington and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association watched CAGE's press conference Tuesday from the Capitol's second floor.

        They also circulated a letter to lawmakers signed by the industry's major players and track operators, including Bob Elliston, president and chief executive officer of Turfway Park in Florence, which is partly owned by Keene- land.

        The letter states that the industry favors VLTs as a way to compete against casinos and to deal with other financial problems.

        “Kentucky's horse industry revenues have declined by more than $400 million, almost 40 percent as a result of Indiana and Illinois riverboats, competition from race tracks in West Virginia and Delaware that have slot machines, and an illness that killed more than 5,000 foals last spring,” the letter states.

        Churchill's Political Action Committee also recently sent $1,000 political contributions to lawmakers. But some legislators, including House Majority Caucus Chairman Jim Callahan, D-Wilder, and Sen. Katie Stine, R-Fort Thomas, returned the contributions.

        “I have a policy of not accepting campaign donations during the session,” Mrs. Stine said Wednesday.

        Others, among them Sen. Ernie Harris, R-Crestwood, who represents Grant and Gallatin counties, kept the money.

        Many lawmakers say they will listen to both sides of the debate before making a decision.

        “I'm on record opposed to casino gambling largely because of the social costs,” Mrs. Stine said. “However, I understand the problems the horse industry, particularly the horse-breeding industry, is facing.

        “I'm willing to listen,” she said.

        Rep. Joe Fischer, R-Fort Thomas, said he is also “open-minded” on the issue but he believes that the churches could have a great deal of sway with lawmakers.

        “Absolutely it could make a difference,” Mr. Fischer said. “The churches have a very strong influence in this General Assembly.”

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