Gambling Bill May Solve School Budget Crunch

February 26 - The gambling bill and the school finance bill will both be presented to Kansas lawmakers this Thursday. Some say one won't make it without the other. It's a stance others say is unacceptable.

In hopes of avoiding another special session and Supreme Court ruling, Senate President Steve Morris is hoping a new gambling bill will finally pass and give the state the extra revenue it needs to fund school finance. Morris says the state has to have another source of revenue, either taxes or gaming.

Morris says the Senate's school finance plan will be similar to the House plan, which calls for $500 million over the next three years. Morris says the state can squeak by the first two years, but by 2009 it will come up short without gaming.

Morris doesn't know if the votes are there to pass the gambling bill. The bill could bring destination casinos to north and southeast Kansas and slot machines to four greyhound parks.

The idea that school funding will fail without gaming isn't sitting well with some in the Senate, including Wichita Senator Jean Schodorf. Schodorf says she doesn't agree the two bills should be introduced together because schools have to be funded with or without gaming. She says a plan should be in place in case voters decide this isn't what they want.

Morris argues Kansans are already seeing the downside of gambling. He hopes they will soon see the other side of the coin. Morris plans to have an estimate of how much money gambling could bring in for the state when the bill is introduced on Thursday.