Emperor Beshear Continues to Make Unilateral Gambling Decisions

Steve Beshear continues to operate well past his authority as governor of Kentucky, now telling legislators they are only allowed to review his plan for expanded gambling at horse tracks, not any others.

Governor and apparent would-be emperor Steve Beshear of Kentucky told legislators no alternatives to his expanded gambling plan would be permitted into the discussion at the General Assembly special session. Beshear had previously instituted a legal assault against online casinos without the knowledge or consent of lawmakers or the state Attorney General.

Beshear ostensibly summoned the legislature to the unscheduled meeting to address the state's gaping budget shortfall. But the day after announcing the session, Beshear commanded the gathering lawmakers to discuss and consider a proposal to place slot machine gambling at state race tracks.

Beshear says the tracks are dying, and subsidizing them is the only way to guarantee their survival. He also had said seizing the domain names of 141 Internet gambling sites was the only way to guarantee track survival in the face of online gaming, even as track operators shifted their emphases from live racing to Internet wagering.

Now state Senate President David Williams wants to offer alternative methods to help the racing industry, and Beshear won't allow it.

“Unlike my proposal, President Williams’ proposal would not create alternate sources of revenue,” Beshear said, peremptorily denying even the revelation of Williams' plan, let alone conversation over it.

Williams, however, seems to recall that the governor is not a dictator. He asserted that Beshear had better learn to compromise and communicate if he expects actions by the Assembly.

“If the House is prohibited from having the entire story, I don’t think there is any way in the world that this bill will pass the House of Representatives,” Williams said.