By Tony McVeigh
Frankfort, KY – A constitutional amendment allowing the people to decide the future of casino gambling in Kentucky has won Senate committee approval. The State and Local Government committee voted 7-5 for the measure, sponsored by Senate President David Williams.
"We believe that the people should decide this issue. If the General Assembly ever determines to submit the issue to the people, the constitution provides that the members of the General Assembly shall express their individual opinion as to whether an amendment to the constitution should take place and then submit it to the people."
The bill now awaits a Senate floor vote. In the House, Speaker Greg Stumbo has re-filed his expanded gambling bill, which won House approval last year, but died in the Senate. Stumbo's bill does not require a constitutional amendment.