Bunning says he advised Fletcher to support casino vote
The Associated Press has a story today about a rift over expanded gambling between Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher and U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky.
By Bruce Schreiner
Associated Press WriterLOUISVILLE -- U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning said Thursday that he urged fellow Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher to support putting the expanded gambling issue on the ballot.
Fletcher, who is running for re-election in a race centered on the gambling issue, has taken an opposite approach.
Bunning also told The Associated Press that he worries Fletcher's anti-casino gambling position could cut into the governor's support in Republican-heavy northern Kentucky.
"I advised him to allow it to be put on the ballot," Bunning said in an interview before the annual country ham breakfast at the Kentucky State Fair. "I guess my word didn't get through."
Bunning said he gave the advice to a Fletcher staffer, whom he wouldn't identify, the day after the May 22 primary.
"There are an awful lot of Republicans that think that's the way it should be handled," Bunning said.
Bunning had endorsed Fletcher's chief rival, former U.S. Rep Anne Northup, in the GOP primary, but promptly endorsed Fletcher after the governor won renomination.
Not long after the primary, Fletcher came out strongly opposed to putting the expanded gambling issue on the ballot in Kentucky. Before then, the governor said he was personally opposed to casino gambling but would leave the issue up to the voters if a gambling referendum made it on the ballot.
Asked to respond to Bunning's comment, Fletcher said Thursday that Bunning hadn't offered that advice to him personally.
Fletcher, Bunning and Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell spoke to the gathering of more than 1,600 at the country ham breakfast, an event sponsored by the Kentucky Farm Bureau.
Fletcher's Democratic opponent, Steve Beshear, has made putting the casino gambling issue on the ballot the highlight of his campaign. Beshear has estimated Kentucky could take in at least $500 million in additional tax revenues with limited casino gambling.
Fletcher said Beshear has turned the general election into a referendum on casino gambling.
"People do have a vote on whether they want casino gambling and it's Nov. 6," Fletcher said.
Bunning said he wasn't upset that the governor had taken a different position on what's shaping up as the key issue in this year's governor race.
"It's his race to run, not mine," Bunning said.
Bunning said that in some parts of Kentucky, Fletcher's anti-casino stance "will be a big plus," but said it could hinder him in northern Kentucky.
"In my area of the state, which is heavily Republican, I just hope it doesn't hurt his margins," Bunning said.
Bunning's comments came one day after Fletcher launched his "No Casinos Tour" with an appearance in Pikeville.
Fletcher argues that casino gambling would bring more social ills to Kentucky, including higher crimes, bankruptcy and divorce.
Beshear, who wants to limit casinos to racetracks and two to four freestanding facilities, says that Kentuckians are spending huge sums of money gambling at casinos placed just across the border in Indiana and Illinois. Beshear says the extra tax revenue from casinos could be put toward education, health care, economic development and other initiatives.
Bunning's crazy. get him out too.
Posted by: uhhhh | August 23, 2007 at 03:32 PM
Jim Pence at Hillbilly Report has done it again. Check this photo out.
http://www.hillbillyreport.com/blog/2007/08/need-a-pardon-s.html#comments
Posted by: Jim A. Stivers | August 24, 2007 at 08:28 AM
Hey Jim Pence, How about take away the cigar
and this photo more suits (not the white one) Mitchie.
Just a thought!
Posted by: Jim A. Stivers | August 24, 2007 at 08:30 AM
Ray Jones State Senator should run against Bunning this next time.
Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 10:19 AM