Senate passes gaming reform in southeast Kansas

Publication Date: 2014-03-25

• Author:Tim Carpenter
• Publication:CJ Online

The Senate engaged in the legislative equivalent of a cat fight Tuesday on gambling before approving a bill dramatically slashing state-mandated minimum investment for a casino in southeast Kansas.

The members voted 28-10 for the bill, but rejected an attempt to sweeten the opportunity for slot machines at a defunct Kansas City racetrack and balked at the suggestion of applying the statewide ban on indoor smoking to casinos under state control...

The Senate also shot down an amendment offered by Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City, to impose a universal ban on smoking in public areas at state casinos in Dodge City, Mulvane and Kansas City, Kan.

"This should be a consistent policy ... and not have a carve-out where you can inhale second-hand smoke," he said...