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Page 1 of 3 For Immediate Release May 28, 2009 Contact: Kent Ostrander Phone: (859) 255-5400 Spokesman says family group will take legal action FRANKFORT, KY— “The Family Foundation is committed to seeing that the constitution is upheld. We will take legal action if the Governor calls a Special Session and oversees the passage of gambling expansion via the current unconstitutional slot-at-the-tracks plan,” said Kent Ostrander, executive director of The Family Foundation, at a news conference in the Capitol Rotunda today at 1:30. “This effort to import slots is deliberately designed to by-pass the people of Kentucky after Governors, Attorneys General and even the horse industry have all promised to follow the constitution and allow the people to be involved in the decision,” said Ostrander. “It is almost unreal.” Ostrander pointed out that the passage of any law, whether simple statute or constitutional amendment, has both a substance and a process component. He outlined how The Family Foundation has always opposed the substance of expanded gambling efforts because it has government encouraging its own people to lose so that it might gain. But with this effort, he maintained that the process has been commandeered and is in violation of our state’s most important body of law – the constitution. Building his argument against Speaker Greg Stumbo’s lone conclusion as Attorney General that an amendment is not needed, Ostrander cited the 1988 Lottery ballot language and the Constitution as well as quotes from Gov. Beshear and other legislators. Ostrander quoted Beshear from his 2007 campaign when he said, “It is time to put his question on the ballot and let the people of Kentucky decide. As Governor of this state, I will make sure that the people have an opportunity to make that choice.” “At this point, the buck stops in the Governor’s office. He may call the Special Session and include gambling as a part of it, but if he does, he’s only passing the buck to the legislators. He’s not resolved the unconstitutional nature of the effort,” said Ostrander. “We will go to court and we will win.” ### For Immediate Release May 20, 2009 Contact: David Edmunds Phone: (502) 457-5744 Family group says slots plan is clearly unconstitutional LEXINGTON, KY—“The people allow for a change in the constitution, not just Churchill Downs or one lawyer in the Attorney General’s Office,” said David Edmunds of The Family Foundation on recent efforts to bring slot machines to Kentucky without a voter-approved change in the constitution. Earlier this week, Rep. Jody Richards (D-Bowling Green) asked the Attorney General’s Office for another opinion on whether this move is constitutional. “Kentucky citizens have spoken twice on the constitutionality of predatory, state-run gambling – once in 1892 with the constitutional prohibition against a statewide mechanism of gambling; then again in 1988, when voters approved the Lottery, but not video slot machines.” “We already have several AG opinions that declare this move is unconstitutional—the most thorough being penned by Democrat Ben Chandler,” continued Edmunds. “The only opinion disagreeing with this common sense constitutional interpretation is that of Greg Stumbo, and he is the sponsor of the slots bill.” “Gambling lobbyists for years have chanted ‘Let the People Decide’, but now it appears they are sending the message ‘Let Stumbo decide’.” “We like horses; we just don’t believe that gambling lobbyists should be allowed to use them to trample Kentucky’s constitution,” said Edmunds in response to today’s press conference held at Churchill Downs asking for slot machines to be passed in a special session this summer. ### For Immediate Release May 14, 2009 Contact: Martin Cothran Phone: (859) 329-1919 Anti-casino group questions the need for a special session LEXINGTON, KY—The spokesman for Say No To Casinos said today that his group opposes a special session if the purpose is to pass an unconstitutional law to expand gambling in the state. The comments came as several top State House leaders were meeting with Gov. Steve Beshear to discuss the possibility of a special session partly devoted to legislation placing video slot machines at race tracks."This kind of mechanized gambling is not only predatory in terms of taking money from people who can't really afford it,” said Martin Cothran, spokesman for Say No To Casinos, “but it's predatory on the horse industry, since mechanized gambling, which is more enticing and more profitable, will eventually drive out the horses." The renewed talk of a special session comes in the wake of the announcement by Churchill Downs that it is canceling race days. "The fact that Churchill is canceling race dates may have more to say about Churchill's lack of commitment to horse racing than it does to anything else," said Cothran, referring to criticisms from some in the media at a recent meeting with its CEO. "They seem to be more concerned with the profits from online and other mechanized gambling than with helping the horse industry." |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 29 May 2009 ) |