CARL MANNING
Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. - Even though they don't have the votes needed for passage, Senate leaders say they plan to introduce a bill this week to expand gambling in Kansas, which they say would help pay for a court-mandated increase in public school money.
"We'll probably introduce it without the 21 votes," Senate President Steve Morris said Monday. "It's getting later in the session, and we need a way to facilitate the process."
As for the needed 21 votes, Morris, R-Hugoton said, "We're optimistic that we'll have them."
But getting there may not be simple, said Sen. Phil Journey, a gambling opponent.
"The biggest trick will be picking up votes on the front side without losing one on the back side, because there are so many moving pieces," said Journey, R-Haysville.
Morris declined to say how many votes he has, but Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley estimated 18 or 19 votes for the bill.
"It's time to move the process," said Hensley, D-Topeka. "Part of the problem is not having a bill. If we expect commitments, they need to know what they're committing to."
Hensley said one reason for the delay is so lawmakers can get a better idea how much the state would receive from the proposal, which includes two casinos - one in Wyandotte County and the other in southeast Kansas. The measure also calls for 7,000 slot machines divided among pari-mutuel horse and dog tracks in Frontenac, Kansas City, Wichita and Dodge City, if the town ever constructs a pari-mutuel track.
Initially, the state's share was estimated at between $200 million and $300 million a year. Of that, 75 percent could be used for education and the rest for local property tax relief.
"We want to do it right the first time," Hensley said. "We want to be sure we're confident in the revenue estimates. Two or three years down the road, we don't want to have egg on our face."
Last week, the Senate unveiled its proposal to spend $660 million over three years to meet a Kansas Supreme Court mandate to adequately fund public education. Like a $500 million House plan unveiled the week before, it doesn't call for higher taxes.
The plan's first year can be financed with existing revenues, including cash reserves. But projections show the second and third years of increased school spending, along with other budget needs, would create a $600 million hole in the budget within three years.
Morris said expanded gambling would be a way to help pay for the school finance plan down the road. If the gambling bill fails, that leaves legislators with few options - none of them good.
"The least bad of five bad choices is gaming. If 21 senators don't agree on gaming, we'll be taking suggestions," said Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence.
The other options include raising taxes, cutting state spending, hoping state revenues will grow to meet demands, or defying the Kansas Supreme Court order to spend more money on education.
Most legislators oppose takes hikes, especially in an election year. No more than 20 percent of state revenues are not earmarked for education, social services or other such programs.
State revenues are $73 million above the November estimate, but it's hard to say what the economy will be like in a couple years.
As for defying the court, Morris said, "I don't think that's a valid option. They still retain jurisdiction in the case."
ON THE NET
Kansas Legislature: http://www.kslegislature.org
Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. - Even though they don't have the votes needed for passage, Senate leaders say they plan to introduce a bill this week to expand gambling in Kansas, which they say would help pay for a court-mandated increase in public school money.
"We'll probably introduce it without the 21 votes," Senate President Steve Morris said Monday. "It's getting later in the session, and we need a way to facilitate the process."
As for the needed 21 votes, Morris, R-Hugoton said, "We're optimistic that we'll have them."
But getting there may not be simple, said Sen. Phil Journey, a gambling opponent.
"The biggest trick will be picking up votes on the front side without losing one on the back side, because there are so many moving pieces," said Journey, R-Haysville.
Morris declined to say how many votes he has, but Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley estimated 18 or 19 votes for the bill.
"It's time to move the process," said Hensley, D-Topeka. "Part of the problem is not having a bill. If we expect commitments, they need to know what they're committing to."
Hensley said one reason for the delay is so lawmakers can get a better idea how much the state would receive from the proposal, which includes two casinos - one in Wyandotte County and the other in southeast Kansas. The measure also calls for 7,000 slot machines divided among pari-mutuel horse and dog tracks in Frontenac, Kansas City, Wichita and Dodge City, if the town ever constructs a pari-mutuel track.
Initially, the state's share was estimated at between $200 million and $300 million a year. Of that, 75 percent could be used for education and the rest for local property tax relief.
"We want to do it right the first time," Hensley said. "We want to be sure we're confident in the revenue estimates. Two or three years down the road, we don't want to have egg on our face."
Last week, the Senate unveiled its proposal to spend $660 million over three years to meet a Kansas Supreme Court mandate to adequately fund public education. Like a $500 million House plan unveiled the week before, it doesn't call for higher taxes.
The plan's first year can be financed with existing revenues, including cash reserves. But projections show the second and third years of increased school spending, along with other budget needs, would create a $600 million hole in the budget within three years.
Morris said expanded gambling would be a way to help pay for the school finance plan down the road. If the gambling bill fails, that leaves legislators with few options - none of them good.
"The least bad of five bad choices is gaming. If 21 senators don't agree on gaming, we'll be taking suggestions," said Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence.
The other options include raising taxes, cutting state spending, hoping state revenues will grow to meet demands, or defying the Kansas Supreme Court order to spend more money on education.
Most legislators oppose takes hikes, especially in an election year. No more than 20 percent of state revenues are not earmarked for education, social services or other such programs.
State revenues are $73 million above the November estimate, but it's hard to say what the economy will be like in a couple years.
As for defying the court, Morris said, "I don't think that's a valid option. They still retain jurisdiction in the case."
ON THE NET
Kansas Legislature: http://www.kslegislature.org