| | |  | Last Updated: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 |  | | | Kentucky Teachers are Pro Gambling
- Thursday, 13 Oct 2005
You normally wouldn’t expect educators to support a bill that would facilitate gambling. However, Jefferson County Teachers Association in Kentucky is in favor of a legislation that will allow citizens to decide whether to allow casino-style gambling from within horse tracks. Kentucky teachers are hoping that some of the gambling revenues generated for the state as a result of this bill will be canalled to public schools.
In addition to the Jefferson County Teachers Association, the proposed gambling amendment is also supported by coalition comprised of the horse gambling industry, interest groups, and local business owners who also stand to profit in the event that the gambling amendment passes. Those who support the gambling bill are estimating that 8 casinos gambling facilities will generate close to $400 million in annual revenue for the state of Kentucky.
Kentucky teachers claim that the state has been ignoring a 1989 Kentucky Supreme Court ruling that called for a sweeping education reform. There is a consensus among the groups in support of the gambling amendment that the majority of the gambling revenues should be allocated towards the education system. Brereton Jones, a former Kentucky governor who currently serves as the Kentucky Equine Education Project chairman says, “The general feeling thus far has been that the biggest piece of the gambling revenues pie must go to education, but we must all sit down and determine the precise details”.
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