Beshear Declines To Debate Gambling

{Frankfort, Kentucky}...Governor Steve Beshear contends that allowing Kentuckians to vote on a constitutional amendment to allow expanded gambling could generate more revenue for state government and the horse industry. Kerri Richardson, the spokeswoman for Beshear, says he is declining a challenge issued Wednesday by Family Foundation executive director Kent Ostrander to debate the merits of a proposal to legalize casino-style gambling in Kentucky. Ostrander, one of the state's most vocal gambling opponents, says Beshear needs to explain why allowing Kentuckians to try their luck on more than horse races, lotteries and charitable bingo games is good public policy. Richardson says the governor's focus is to allow Kentuckians to settle the issue at the polls.