Published: June 18, 2009 05:01 pm      

Same old game — 06/19/09

Legislators who support slots are promised funds for schools

In an ideal world where fiscally responsible legislators committed to doing what is best for Kentucky served in the General Assembly, the question of whether to expand gambling in Kentucky by allowing video slot machines to be placed at race tracks would be decided on its own merits with other issues being kept out of the debate.

And whether to help fund the construction of school buildings would be determined strictly on need from a list of priorities approved by the Kentucky Board of Education based on recommendations by the Department of Education. How a legislator votes on a bill to expand gambling would not be a factor.

But this is not an ideal world. This is politics in Frankfort, where the game of “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” has been played since the earliest days of the Commonwealth. Why should we expect it to stop now — especially when legislators can use their vote for slot machines at tracks to land popular projects that will gain the support — and votes — of the folks back home?

In a story by CNHI Frankfort correspondent Ronnie Ellis published Wednesday, State Rep. Johnny Bell, D-Glasgow, said he has been told if he votes against the slots at tracks, there will be no funding for a new Glasgow High School. If he votes for expanded gambling, the high school will be funded.

Gov. Steve Beshear’s plan for using revenue from expanded gambling include funds for Carter Elementary and Star Elementary in Carter County, Boyd County High School, Worthington Elementary, Lakeside Elementary in Elliott County and Russell High School. As we see it, that means State Reps. Tanya Pullin, Rocky Adkins, Robin Webb and Kevin Sinnette are in the same boat as Bell: If they vote against expanded gambling, they will be voting against school construction projects in their districts.

This is a lousy way to do the work of the people. But like we said, this is the way things have always been done in this state, and only a politically naive nincompoop would think it is going to change now. When legislators approved a one-cent increase in the sales tax to fund the Kentucky Education Reform Act in 1990, the bill was greased with loads of pork projects to convince reluctant legislators to vote for it. Why should it be different now?

Maybe someday legislators will cast their votes without being promised pork — but don’t count on it.

However, we will say this: Even with all those promised schools, a bill to allow video slots at tracks still is far from being a “sure thing” — even in the House of Representatives. Legislators likely will have to choose whether landing new schools for their districts is worth earning the wrath of both anti-gambling forces and those who think expanded gambling should be approved by voters, not legislators. And, believe it or not, some voters don’t take too kindly to trading votes in backroom deals. Nor should they. Such deals have a way of exploding in the faces of politicians.