SOCIAL HARMS
"Seeking Our Neighbor's Welfare"Social Harms
Addictions are a plague on our Commonwealth that break apart Kentucky’s families, thus destroying the foundational cornerstone of our society.
Expanded Gambling
The Family Foundation believes that expanded gambling within the Commonwealth would be bad for Kentucky families and have a corrupting influence on our government.
Expanded gambling would target the family. Gambling does not create any new wealth, it merely makes wealth change hands. And gambling money does not come from corporations, businesses, institutions, schools, nonprofits, clubs, or civic groups; gambling money comes from Moms and Dads, and a few single people.
Businesses will lose. After their losses, parents won’t be able to afford taking the family out to eat, buying their children new clothes for school, purchasing a new refrigerator, or financing a new addition to the house.
Government will be corrupted. With millions going into the hands of the gambling industry, they will become the greatest contributor to and most influential group in the political process. This would open the door for the will of the gambling industry to direct our legislature, rather than the will of the people.
The vulnerable will be destroyed. There will be some people whose lives will be totally destroyed – marriage-damaging financial stress, alcoholism, drug use, child neglect and abuse, spouse neglect and abuse, divorce, depression, suicide, embezzlement, imprisonment, and crime.
Medical Marijuana
Although marijuana may have medical benefits, it needs to go through the same testing process required of other medications to ensure that the public, health professionals, and industry are protected.
A January 2017 report from teh National Academies of Sciences, Engieering, and MEdicine (NASEM) summarized the current evidence and recommended several steps to overcome regulatory barriers so that the health benefits and health risks of marijuana could be more fully understood.
A comprehensive research agenda focused on the potential benefits and adverse impacts of marijuana has not occurred and cannot occur under current federal law.
Recent Social Harms Related Blog Posts
The Family Foundation files response to KHRC and Tracks
LEXINGTON, KY – The Family Foundation filed a response with the Kentucky Supreme Court on Friday in its 10-year-long court case arguing against the request of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) and several of the state's race tracks for a rehearing of the...
No easy fix for historical racing, says family advocacy group
LEXINGTON, KY– The Family Foundation asked today why it was that operators of a "historic racing" game struck down by the Kentucky Supreme Court last week are now claiming they can easily fix the machines to make them legal. "We're supposed to believe that tracks...
So-called “Conversion Ban” pushed
On Aug. 25, a legislative committee heard testimony on a proposed bill for 2021, to ban “gay conversion therapy.” Opponents of the bill refer to it as the “counseling censorship ban.” Two such bills were introduced in the 2020 session, but neither moved — HB 199 by...
So-called “Conversion Ban” bill likely in 2021
It really is not surprising that left-wing advocates would want to stop free speech and freedom of religion with a law. On Aug. 25, the Interim Joint Committee on Licensing and Occupations heard for “discussion only” a bill that would ban licensed counselors, social...
PRESS RELEASE: Kentucky Supreme Court rules “HHR” gambling devices unlawful: 7-0
LEXINGTON, KY– The Family Foundation is calling on all horse racing tracks who are engaged in so-called "historical horse racing" to cease operations until it is determined that the gaming being conducted is in conformity with law. This declaration comes in the wake...
U.K. Lawmakers “Fed Up” with Sports Betting Companies Targeting Poor Populations
Some individuals look at the mistakes of others and avoid taking those actions. Others, however, believe they can take the same actions and achieve a different result (definition of insanity). In 2015, the United Kingdom’s gambling industry was credibly accused of...
A BAD thing done a BAD way
OPINION BY Martin Cothran, Senior Policy Analyst When Sports Wagering legislation was introduced in early January, the odds were said to be good that it would gain the approval of the state legislators. In fact, for almost every session for the past 25 years,...
Resolution to Urge the Federal Government to Expedite Research of Medicinal Marijuana Moves Forward
HCR 5, a House concurrent resolution calling for the federal government to reschedule marijuana and expedite the research and swift legalization of safe and effective medications which may be present in marijuana, has passed the House Health and Family Services...
Committee Testimony on HB 137 – Sports Wagering
Senior Policy Analyst Martin Cothran's Testimony before the Kentucky House Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Committee on January 15, 2020. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, thank you for letting us address HB 137. There are of...
The Family Foundation files response to KHRC and Tracks
LEXINGTON, KY – The Family Foundation filed a response with the Kentucky Supreme Court on Friday in its 10-year-long court case arguing against the request of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) and several of the state's race tracks for a rehearing of the...
No easy fix for historical racing, says family advocacy group
LEXINGTON, KY– The Family Foundation asked today why it was that operators of a "historic racing" game struck down by the Kentucky Supreme Court last week are now claiming they can easily fix the machines to make them legal. "We're supposed to believe that tracks...
So-called “Conversion Ban” pushed
On Aug. 25, a legislative committee heard testimony on a proposed bill for 2021, to ban “gay conversion therapy.” Opponents of the bill refer to it as the “counseling censorship ban.” Two such bills were introduced in the 2020 session, but neither moved — HB 199 by...
So-called “Conversion Ban” bill likely in 2021
It really is not surprising that left-wing advocates would want to stop free speech and freedom of religion with a law. On Aug. 25, the Interim Joint Committee on Licensing and Occupations heard for “discussion only” a bill that would ban licensed counselors, social...
PRESS RELEASE: Kentucky Supreme Court rules “HHR” gambling devices unlawful: 7-0
LEXINGTON, KY– The Family Foundation is calling on all horse racing tracks who are engaged in so-called "historical horse racing" to cease operations until it is determined that the gaming being conducted is in conformity with law. This declaration comes in the wake...
U.K. Lawmakers “Fed Up” with Sports Betting Companies Targeting Poor Populations
Some individuals look at the mistakes of others and avoid taking those actions. Others, however, believe they can take the same actions and achieve a different result (definition of insanity). In 2015, the United Kingdom’s gambling industry was credibly accused of...
A BAD thing done a BAD way
OPINION BY Martin Cothran, Senior Policy Analyst When Sports Wagering legislation was introduced in early January, the odds were said to be good that it would gain the approval of the state legislators. In fact, for almost every session for the past 25 years,...
Resolution to Urge the Federal Government to Expedite Research of Medicinal Marijuana Moves Forward
HCR 5, a House concurrent resolution calling for the federal government to reschedule marijuana and expedite the research and swift legalization of safe and effective medications which may be present in marijuana, has passed the House Health and Family Services...
Committee Testimony on HB 137 – Sports Wagering
Senior Policy Analyst Martin Cothran's Testimony before the Kentucky House Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Committee on January 15, 2020. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, thank you for letting us address HB 137. There are of...
The Family Foundation files response to KHRC and Tracks
LEXINGTON, KY – The Family Foundation filed a response with the Kentucky Supreme Court on Friday in its 10-year-long court case arguing against the request of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) and several of the state's race tracks for a rehearing of the...
No easy fix for historical racing, says family advocacy group
LEXINGTON, KY– The Family Foundation asked today why it was that operators of a "historic racing" game struck down by the Kentucky Supreme Court last week are now claiming they can easily fix the machines to make them legal. "We're supposed to believe that tracks...
So-called “Conversion Ban” pushed
On Aug. 25, a legislative committee heard testimony on a proposed bill for 2021, to ban “gay conversion therapy.” Opponents of the bill refer to it as the “counseling censorship ban.” Two such bills were introduced in the 2020 session, but neither moved — HB 199 by...
So-called “Conversion Ban” bill likely in 2021
It really is not surprising that left-wing advocates would want to stop free speech and freedom of religion with a law. On Aug. 25, the Interim Joint Committee on Licensing and Occupations heard for “discussion only” a bill that would ban licensed counselors, social...
PRESS RELEASE: Kentucky Supreme Court rules “HHR” gambling devices unlawful: 7-0
LEXINGTON, KY– The Family Foundation is calling on all horse racing tracks who are engaged in so-called "historical horse racing" to cease operations until it is determined that the gaming being conducted is in conformity with law. This declaration comes in the wake...
U.K. Lawmakers “Fed Up” with Sports Betting Companies Targeting Poor Populations
Some individuals look at the mistakes of others and avoid taking those actions. Others, however, believe they can take the same actions and achieve a different result (definition of insanity). In 2015, the United Kingdom’s gambling industry was credibly accused of...
A BAD thing done a BAD way
OPINION BY Martin Cothran, Senior Policy Analyst When Sports Wagering legislation was introduced in early January, the odds were said to be good that it would gain the approval of the state legislators. In fact, for almost every session for the past 25 years,...
Resolution to Urge the Federal Government to Expedite Research of Medicinal Marijuana Moves Forward
HCR 5, a House concurrent resolution calling for the federal government to reschedule marijuana and expedite the research and swift legalization of safe and effective medications which may be present in marijuana, has passed the House Health and Family Services...
Committee Testimony on HB 137 – Sports Wagering
Senior Policy Analyst Martin Cothran's Testimony before the Kentucky House Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Committee on January 15, 2020. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, thank you for letting us address HB 137. There are of...
Older Posts
“Sports Wagering” strategy has been tried before
LEXINGTON, KY – A group that has opposed expanded gambling in Kentucky for decades said today that the legislative effort to legalize sports wagering without amending the state's Constitution was a surprise, given that both Chambers of the state's General Assembly...
No Constitutional Amendment for Gambling?
Republican-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate were racing forward with their conservative agenda – passing seven bills in the first five days of the 2017 Session. The speed is not the same in 2018 for a number of reasons. Among the bills passed early...
The week before Christmas
The week before Christmas, Kentucky’s Interim Joint Committee on Licensing and Occupations decided to give itself a present. Committee members, almost all of whom favored sports wagering legislation pre-filed for this 2020 General Assembly session, were facing a...
Write the Editor About Gambling
Just choose the message you feel best represents your concerns and mail soon (VERY SOON) to your newspaper. Please add your own words and you can mix ad match ideas from several if you care to. The main this is to get your message in SOON! Dear Editor, There’s a lot...
Gambling Industry Looks to Challenge Kentucky Constitution with New Gambling Expansion Efforts
A new round of efforts aimed at expanding gambling opportunities and challenging the bounds of Kentucky’s constitution is expected to be brought forward by pro-gambling lawmakers in Frankfort during the 2020 legislative session. While efforts to expand access to...
The Foundation’s gambling case: The Facts
After a nearly ten-year court battle, the Kentucky Supreme Court now has everything it needs to determine whether one type of the historical horse racing devices is actually legal. The Family Foundation filed its reply brief, the last of the written arguments in the...
Are these devices really pari-mutuel?
“From my vantage point, this whole case is a farce,” said Kent Ostrander, executive director of The Family Foundation. “It’s all about the horse racing industry trying to consolidate a monopoly on all kinds of gambling in Kentucky by circumventing the General Assembly...
Reply brief filed, Historical Horse Racing case moves forward at Kentucky Supreme Court
LEXINGTON – The Family Foundation announced today the filing with the Kentucky Supreme Court of its reply brief to the Horse Racing Commission and several horse racing tracks in a case involving historical horse racing machines. This form of wagering is now being...
“Historical Racing” / slot gaming case to be heard by the Kentucky Supreme Court
Stan Cave may have the patience of Job, but he certainly has the faith of Jonathan and his armor bearer. (See I Sam 14) Cave, The Family Foundation’s attorney, has been fighting with as many as 14 attorneys at a time since August of 2010 in the various machinations of...
“Four Truths” about gambling expansion
It has always worked this way: A few people who have money try to induce those who have little to “take a chance.” Those wealthy individuals never gamble on their machines — they know better. Now we have the horse racing industry, which claims to need money,...
Foxes Guarding Hens
On Aug. 21, a meeting was held in Frankfort to discuss the newest idea for solving the state’s financial problems. The Joint Interim Licensing and Occupations Committee took testimony on sports wagering legislation. Unfortunately for supporters of this legislation,...
Some want to put a fox over the sports wagering hen house, says family group spokesman
LEXINGTON, KY — A spokesman for a group opposed to sports wagering rang alarm bells today about how lawmakers wanting to expand gambling in the state plan to regulate it. "Proponents of sports wagering in the Kentucky General Assembly want to put a fox in charge of...
Lawmakers ignoring Constitution on sports wagering, says family group
LEXINGTON, KY — "That silence you hear coming from Frankfort is the Joint Licensing and Occupations Committee not talking about how their sports wagering legislation is unconstitutional," said Martin Cothran, a spokesman for The Family Foundation, which opposes...
Some want our money at all costs
Opinion: By Martin Cothran, Senior Policy Analyst for The Family Foundation The gambling bill in the 2019 Session is dead, but the corruptive influence of the gambling industry never dies. In early February, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported that a prominent...
Historical Racing case is farcical
It’s a fact that these machines were operating LONG BEFORE there was a ruling. How the Kentucky judiciary had been allowing these “historical racing” slot machines to operate long before it ruled in the case is “Exhibit Number 1” of how the gambling industry corrupts...
HB 175: Massive gambling expansion bill fails!
Though it was described simply as a “Sports Wagering bill,” HB 175 would have had huge ramifications for Kentucky families. House Bill 175 was “advertised” in the General Assembly in Frankfort as the “Sports Wagering Bill” but it actually went way beyond its moniker....
Testimony on HB 175 – The Gambling Expansion Bill
Testimony HighlightsVideo highlights of attorney Stan Cave's Feb. 13, 2019 testimony before the House Licensing, Occupations, & Admin Regs Committee concerning HB 175 (as filed). Call the toll-free Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181 and leave this message...
Gambling expansion is bad policy! – CALL!
The legislative efforts to expand gambling are now coming from some Republicans. Phone calls are the best tool to stop them. HB 175 is posted for passage in the Kentucky House. Stan Cave, attorney for The Family Foundation, who testified against HB175 (as filed)...
Casinos are here without authorization – CALL!
There are only two ways left to stop them: 1) Gov. Bevin can do it; and 2) The Family Foundation’s 8-year-and-counting court case. The only way to stop the six casinos that have come to Kentucky with their slot-like “historical racing” machines is to have one of the...
Cannabis must be fully researched – CALL!
House Concurrent Resolution 5 (HCR 5) calls on the FDA to properly study cannabis, just like it does all other medications. ALL of the herbs and grasses of the field, and ALL of the shrubs and trees have been given to man to use and develop for his benefit. Cannabis...
HC Resolution 5: Best path forward – CALL!
Keep the good (medications) and eliminate the bad (contaminants, hallucinogens, etc.) In other words, do the RESEARCH FIRST! Kentucky legislators are preparing for what will likely be a hot debate over a plant. Two bills to legalize marijuana and a resolution to...
“Sports Wagering” strategy has been tried before
LEXINGTON, KY – A group that has opposed expanded gambling in Kentucky for decades said today that the legislative effort to legalize sports wagering without amending the state's Constitution was a surprise, given that both Chambers of the state's General Assembly...
No Constitutional Amendment for Gambling?
Republican-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate were racing forward with their conservative agenda – passing seven bills in the first five days of the 2017 Session. The speed is not the same in 2018 for a number of reasons. Among the bills passed early...
The week before Christmas
The week before Christmas, Kentucky’s Interim Joint Committee on Licensing and Occupations decided to give itself a present. Committee members, almost all of whom favored sports wagering legislation pre-filed for this 2020 General Assembly session, were facing a...
Write the Editor About Gambling
Just choose the message you feel best represents your concerns and mail soon (VERY SOON) to your newspaper. Please add your own words and you can mix ad match ideas from several if you care to. The main this is to get your message in SOON! Dear Editor, There’s a lot...
Gambling Industry Looks to Challenge Kentucky Constitution with New Gambling Expansion Efforts
A new round of efforts aimed at expanding gambling opportunities and challenging the bounds of Kentucky’s constitution is expected to be brought forward by pro-gambling lawmakers in Frankfort during the 2020 legislative session. While efforts to expand access to...
The Foundation’s gambling case: The Facts
After a nearly ten-year court battle, the Kentucky Supreme Court now has everything it needs to determine whether one type of the historical horse racing devices is actually legal. The Family Foundation filed its reply brief, the last of the written arguments in the...
Are these devices really pari-mutuel?
“From my vantage point, this whole case is a farce,” said Kent Ostrander, executive director of The Family Foundation. “It’s all about the horse racing industry trying to consolidate a monopoly on all kinds of gambling in Kentucky by circumventing the General Assembly...
Reply brief filed, Historical Horse Racing case moves forward at Kentucky Supreme Court
LEXINGTON – The Family Foundation announced today the filing with the Kentucky Supreme Court of its reply brief to the Horse Racing Commission and several horse racing tracks in a case involving historical horse racing machines. This form of wagering is now being...
“Historical Racing” / slot gaming case to be heard by the Kentucky Supreme Court
Stan Cave may have the patience of Job, but he certainly has the faith of Jonathan and his armor bearer. (See I Sam 14) Cave, The Family Foundation’s attorney, has been fighting with as many as 14 attorneys at a time since August of 2010 in the various machinations of...
“Four Truths” about gambling expansion
It has always worked this way: A few people who have money try to induce those who have little to “take a chance.” Those wealthy individuals never gamble on their machines — they know better. Now we have the horse racing industry, which claims to need money,...
Foxes Guarding Hens
On Aug. 21, a meeting was held in Frankfort to discuss the newest idea for solving the state’s financial problems. The Joint Interim Licensing and Occupations Committee took testimony on sports wagering legislation. Unfortunately for supporters of this legislation,...
Some want to put a fox over the sports wagering hen house, says family group spokesman
LEXINGTON, KY — A spokesman for a group opposed to sports wagering rang alarm bells today about how lawmakers wanting to expand gambling in the state plan to regulate it. "Proponents of sports wagering in the Kentucky General Assembly want to put a fox in charge of...
Lawmakers ignoring Constitution on sports wagering, says family group
LEXINGTON, KY — "That silence you hear coming from Frankfort is the Joint Licensing and Occupations Committee not talking about how their sports wagering legislation is unconstitutional," said Martin Cothran, a spokesman for The Family Foundation, which opposes...
Some want our money at all costs
Opinion: By Martin Cothran, Senior Policy Analyst for The Family Foundation The gambling bill in the 2019 Session is dead, but the corruptive influence of the gambling industry never dies. In early February, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported that a prominent...
Historical Racing case is farcical
It’s a fact that these machines were operating LONG BEFORE there was a ruling. How the Kentucky judiciary had been allowing these “historical racing” slot machines to operate long before it ruled in the case is “Exhibit Number 1” of how the gambling industry corrupts...
HB 175: Massive gambling expansion bill fails!
Though it was described simply as a “Sports Wagering bill,” HB 175 would have had huge ramifications for Kentucky families. House Bill 175 was “advertised” in the General Assembly in Frankfort as the “Sports Wagering Bill” but it actually went way beyond its moniker....
Testimony on HB 175 – The Gambling Expansion Bill
Testimony HighlightsVideo highlights of attorney Stan Cave's Feb. 13, 2019 testimony before the House Licensing, Occupations, & Admin Regs Committee concerning HB 175 (as filed). Call the toll-free Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181 and leave this message...
Gambling expansion is bad policy! – CALL!
The legislative efforts to expand gambling are now coming from some Republicans. Phone calls are the best tool to stop them. HB 175 is posted for passage in the Kentucky House. Stan Cave, attorney for The Family Foundation, who testified against HB175 (as filed)...
Casinos are here without authorization – CALL!
There are only two ways left to stop them: 1) Gov. Bevin can do it; and 2) The Family Foundation’s 8-year-and-counting court case. The only way to stop the six casinos that have come to Kentucky with their slot-like “historical racing” machines is to have one of the...
Cannabis must be fully researched – CALL!
House Concurrent Resolution 5 (HCR 5) calls on the FDA to properly study cannabis, just like it does all other medications. ALL of the herbs and grasses of the field, and ALL of the shrubs and trees have been given to man to use and develop for his benefit. Cannabis...
HC Resolution 5: Best path forward – CALL!
Keep the good (medications) and eliminate the bad (contaminants, hallucinogens, etc.) In other words, do the RESEARCH FIRST! Kentucky legislators are preparing for what will likely be a hot debate over a plant. Two bills to legalize marijuana and a resolution to...