[JoshW]

Senate leader say school finance plan needs expanded gamblingCARL MANNINGAssociated PressTOPEKA, Kan. - Supporters of more gambling in Kansas have said for years that its best chance for passage would be when the state is desperate for money and lawmakers don't want to raise taxes.
Senate leaders conceded Thursday that time finally has arrived.
They trotted out a plan that would increase school funding by $660 million over three years to meet a Kansas Supreme Court mandate to adequately fund public education. Like a $500 million House plan unveiled last week, it doesn't call for higher taxes.
Neither plan would create a bright financial future. Budget projects suggested a shortfall could appear by next year and reach $500 million in two years.
Because this is an election year, legislative leaders have refused to consider a tax increase, leaving gambling as the only realistic option.
Senate President Steve Morris said the state can rely on $477 million in expected cash reserves in the next budget to finance the plan's first year.
"Second and third years, that's where gaming comes in," said Morris, R-Hugoton. "We're hoping that gaming will pass and will help us with the financing on the second and third years."
A proposal from Senate leaders calls for two casinos, one in Wyandotte County and one in southeast Kansas. It also divides 7,000 slot machines among horse and dog tracks in Frontenac, Kansas City, Wichita and Dodge City, if the town ever constructs a pari-mutuel track.
Once the casinos and slots are in full operation, the state's share is estimated 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.Asked whether the Senate's plan assumes gambling will pass, Morris said: "We can't make that assumption, but we're trying to push gaming for a number of reasons."
Morris said he's "optimistic" he has the minimum 21 votes needed, but Sen. Phil Journey, R-Hayville, who opposes gambling, said Morris will be lucky to receive 18 votes.
House Speaker Doug Mays, who voted against gambling bills before, sounded skeptical about linking school finance to gambling.
"If gambling doesn't passes, do we cut back on the plan?" said Mays, R-Topeka.
As for whether gambling can pass his chamber, Mays said, "It's always been very close, and I think it'll be a very close vote. It depends on what the bill looks like."
Linking gambling and school finance won't convince longtime opponents such as Sen. Nick Jordan, R-Shawnee.
"Most parents would say to their children that we don't want you to gamble," Jordan said. "It's awkward then to say, `Your education is being financed by gambling.'"
Aside from a state lottery and horse and dog tracks, Kansas has four Indian casinos. There also are four casinos in Kansas City, Mo., one in St. Joseph, Mo., and 10 Indian casinos in northeast Oklahoma.
Bills to expand gambling have been around for years but have died because gambling promoters became greedy, wanting to expand the bill or fighting over who gets how much.
This year the bill was crafted by Senate leaders, with the gambling industry on the outside looking in. In past years, the industry wrote the bills and handed them to legislators.
The plan, to be considered next week by the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee, requires the tracks to pay $15,000 up front for each slot. The upfront payment would be deducted from the amount owed the state in future years.
Casino managers would pay $35 million before they could open their doors, and they would have to invest at least $200 million in the project.The state would own the casinos and slots through the Kansas Lottery Commission and would hire a company to run them.
Since taking office in 2003, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has pushed casino gambling to raise money for state programs. She was involved in discussions that led to the House and Senate school finance plans.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...l/14001839.htm

[bigboydan]

Kansas has been a very strange state in regards to gambling. i doubt those schools will see that money though, because not many states use that money for them after it's all said and done.