Legislative Updates Summer 2000

Alabama
Montgomery: Two video gambling bills introduced by state Sen. George Clay, D- Tuskegee, and Sen. Charles Steele, D-Tuscaloosa, were withdrawn April 19 due to lack of support. If passed, the bills would have allowed voters in Macon and Greene Counties to decide whether or not to allow video poker machines at VictoryLand and Greenetrack.
Another bill proposing a 50 percent tax break for the four struggling dog tracks breezed through the full House and the Senate Finance and Taxation-General Fund Committee. HB 867, sponsored by Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery, would reduce the state's 1 percent tax on wagers to 0.5 percent, lowering state revenue by $2.5 million.
Lt. Gov. Steve Windom is an outspoken opponent of the tax break and urged the Senate to defeat the measure. "Millionaire Milton McGregor[owner of the Birmingham Race Course and VictoryLand] would get $1.5 million, by a conservative estimate, because of that tax break," Windom said.

Outcome: The tax break bill died in the Senate on May 15, the Final day of the 2000 legislative session.

Sources: The Tuscaloosa News: Phillip Rawls
The Associated Press: Bill Poovey

Colorado
Denver: On April 17 the House endorsed a $5 million tax break for the state's greyhound racing industry. HB 1163, sponsored by Rep. Gary McPherson, R-Aurora, would reduce the state's pari-mutuel tax on wagers placed at greyhound tracks from 4.5 percent to 0.75 percent.
"This is a good example of a special-interest tax cut that benefits only one industry," said Rep. Todd Saliman, D-Boulder. "This is exactly what we shouldn't be doing."
Ironically, House endorsement of the tax break came within days of a press conference held by members of the so-called New Democrat Caucus to protest special-interest legislation.

Outcome: HB 1163 was killed in the House Appropriations Committee on May 2, the last day of the legislative session.

Sources: Denver Rocky Mountain News: Lynn Bartels, Julia C. Martinez
The Denver Post

Florida
Tallahassee: The Legislature passed a $20 million tax break bill for the state's
Financially ailing pari-mutuel industry. The original bill, HB 725, was introduced in the House by Rep. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey. Fasano said the dog tracks pay a higher percentage of taxes than the horse tracks and jai alai frontons. "We're just trying to level the playing field a little bit."
HB 725 was unanimously approved by the House Finance and Taxation Committee April 24 and passed the full House 99-12 on May 2. The bill was sent to the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries, where it died. On May 5, in the final hours of the legislative session, HB 725 was resurrected and connected to SB 770, a $40 million proposal to cut the per drink tax at bars and restaurants.
After the tax breaks passed. Senate President Toni Jennings, R-Orlando, said, "This [bill] was just about a few dogs, a few horses and a few drinks."
The bill was sent to Gov. Jeb Bush for his signature or veto. Bush said earlier in the session that he would support equitable tax breaks that have a wide impact. "I hope the great majority of the tax relief is spread out over the largest number of people."
In other legislative action involving the greyhound racing industry, HB03 17, a proposal to exempt feed for racing greyhounds from sales tax, died in the Committee on General Government Appropriations May 5.

Outcome: HB 770 was enacted into law June 22 without the governor's signature.

Sources: St. Petersburg Times: Tim Nickens, Jo Becker
The Tampa Tribune: Joe Follick
The Orlando Sentinel: Mark Hollis

Kansas
Topeka: For the eighth consecutive year, a proposal to legalize slot and other electronic gambling machines at the state's three dog tracks in Kansas City, Wichita and Frontenac, died in the Senate. If passed, SB 667 would have put the issue before voters in November. The bill was canceled from the calendar during the final hours of the 2000 session which ended at midnight April 29.
Brad Smoot, a lobbyist for The Woodlands in Kansas City, said failure to bring the issue to the Senate floor for a vote was devastating. "It's not going to happen this year, or possibly ever. It is dire," Smoot said.
Sen. Lana Oleen, R-Manhattan, a long-time opponent of slots at the racetracks, said, "We have dealt with issue for years, and for years we have said 'no.' Some people just aren't listening."

Source: The Kansas City Star: Rick Alm

Massachusetts
Boston: A special committee empaneled by the governor to study the future of racing in the state has ruled out the possibility of allowing casino gambling and slot machines at Wonderland and Raynhan- Taunton Greyhound Parks. "The competition from Connecticut and Rhode Island will ultimately overtake the tracks," said Kevin Considine, a spokesman for Wonderland. "The competition is too severe for them to survive without some help."
Lawmakers are considering a proposal introduced June 23 to allow telephone wagering and expanded simulcasting which will allow the dog tracks to offer wagering on horse races. The proposal also includes a $4 million tax break. Since the state has taken such action before, some legislators suggested earlier in the session that it may no longer be appropriate to keep the industry alive artificially. The Legislature is expected to adjourn July 31.
The two embattled dog tracks are also threatened by the Grey2K initiative which will place the dog racing issue before voters in November 2000. George Carney and Charles Sarkis, owners of the Rayhnam and Wonderland tracks, respectively, are expected to launch a $1 million media campaign defending dog racing beginning July 4.
Phase two of the initiative process required Grey2K supporters to collect additional signatures from registered voters between May 5 and June 21. In late June, Grey2K delivered nearly 30,000 signatures to the secretary of state. Of those signatures, only 9,517 must be validated to place the racing ban proposal on the ballot.
If voters approve the ban, Massachusetts would become the first state with operating racetracks to prohibit the sport. Grey2K's goal is to raise $1.3 million to counteract industry media blitzes in the weeks leading up to the election.

GNN readers who would like to help end 65 years of dog racing in the Bay State may contact Grey2K at P.O. Box 1606, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130. Telephone: (617) 666-3526.

Source: The Boston Herald: Scott Van Voorhis

New Hampshire
Concord: On May 4 the House voted 250-100 against a bill introduced by Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, D-Manchester, to allow video slot machines at the state's dog and horse tracks and the two grand hotels in the North Country.

Source: Foster's Democrat Online: Dan Tuohy