Stumbo, Beshear Hopeful For Expanded Gambling

{Frankfort, Kentucky}…House Speaker Greg Stumbo is no longer demanding that legislation calling for a constitutional amendment to legalize gambling start in the Senate. Stumbo and Governor Steve Beshear are hoping the departure of Senate President David Williams, who resigned earlier this month to become a circuit judge, will improve the chances of getting a bill through the General Assembly when it convenes in January. Incoming Senate floor leader, Republican Damon Thayer of Georgetown, is one of the state's leading gambling supporters. Stumbo says incoming Senate President, Republican Robert Stivers of Manchester, appears willing to talk with Democratic House leaders and the Democratic governor who has pushed for gambling since he took office in 2007. If a constitutional amendment is approved, it would have to be placed on the ballot in 2014 for Kentucky voters to ratify or reject.