{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"The News Journal","provider_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net","title":"Kentucky Senate leadership visits Whitley County &ndash; The News Journal","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"M3ejNOV3Rm\"><a href=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/kentucky-senate-leadership-visits-whitley-county\/\">Kentucky Senate leadership visits Whitley County<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/kentucky-senate-leadership-visits-whitley-county\/embed\/#?secret=M3ejNOV3Rm\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Kentucky Senate leadership visits Whitley County&#8221; &#8212; The News Journal\" data-secret=\"M3ejNOV3Rm\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/4-col-Senators-in-a-row.jpg","thumbnail_width":480,"thumbnail_height":281,"description":"The proposed Cumberland Run quarter horse race track for Corbin still looks like it is going to happen and the state legislature isn\u2019t likely to take any action regarding pension reform this upcoming legislative session although the issue of sports betting as a way to fund the pension system might be a topic of conversation. These were some of the topics discussed during a Nov. 28 press conference at the Whitley County Courthouse with Republican senate leaders. The senators were in Whitley County last week for a Republican Caucus Retreat to plan their agenda for the upcoming legislative session in 2019. Senate President Robert Stivers, who represents Whitley County, said he couldn\u2019t see any reason why the Cumberland Run track won\u2019t still happen in Corbin. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission recently agreed to award an unused racetrack license for a proposed racetrack in western Kentucky called Oak Grove, which has prompted speculation about the proposed Corbin racetrack. Stivers noted that the Cumberland Run racetrack would use an already existing racing license, which was previously used at the now closed Thunder Ridge racetrack in Prestonsburg. \u201cI think they (the Kentucky Racing Commission) were wrestling with this initial issue about Oak Grove. I think now they will turn their focus to allowing the transfer (of the existing license). Hopefully it won\u2019t be delayed much longer because that is an already existing racing license,\u201d Stivers said. Republican retreat The retreat was held last Wednesday evening through Friday at Cumberland Falls State Park. Stivers said the caucus retreat has been happening for most of the 20 years that Republicans have been in control of the Kentucky Senate. Initially, the meetings were held in Louisville annually, and then in 2013, Republican leaders decided to move it around to different locations in the state, such as Owensboro, Maysville, Paducah and Berea. Republican Caucus Chair Julie Raque Adams said during Wednesday\u2019s press conference that the meeting included planned briefings Thursday by the governor\u2019s office and from several cabinets, in addition to updates on some pending litigation. Friday\u2019s session was reserved for senators to update other senators about their priorities, initiatives, and so forth in order to get an idea on where Republican legislators wanted to go in terms of legislation. Prior to last Wednesday\u2019s press conference, Republican senators spent about two hours meeting with about 30 officials from Whitley County, Corbin and Williamsburg to hear their concerns and priorities. Stivers said that Republican leaders heard some accolades and got some questions. \u201cThere is an issue about annexation with Corbin in Laurel County, and about it being really a tri-county city. There are some issues about adventure tourism. Superintendent (John) Siler here at the Whitley County school system wanted to talk about where we were going, and basically preparing our young students for trades, skills and future employment opportunities that was a long discussion and an example of some of what we discussed with them,\u201d Stivers said. Pension reform Stivers said he doesn\u2019t foresee the legislature taking any additional action regarding pension reform next year until it sees how the Kentucky Supreme Court rules on this year\u2019s pension reform bill, and how the ruling impacts that. \u201cWithout that potential guidance as to what they think our process should be, we are limited with what we can really deal with right now,\u201d Stivers said. The issue of funding for the state\u2019s eight different pensions funds isn\u2019t going away either, senators noted. At least one Democratic candidate for governor has proposed legalizing casino gaming and sports betting with proceeds going to fund the state pension system. \u201cThe best I have heard is maybe $18 &#8211; $20 million, and that is with full implementation with brick and mortar and interactive betting, and including all aspects of every sport,\u201d Stivers noted about how much revenue sports betting might generate. \u201cThe NCAA has not told us kind of what their position is. To my understanding, the NCAA doesn\u2019t want to be involved in sports betting. We saw at U of L what happens when you inject just tennis shoe money as opposed to gaming money.\u201d If betting on college sports isn\u2019t included in any kind of sports betting law, Stivers said most experts agree that sports betting proceeds would probably be cut in half. Senator Damon Thayer added he is for sports betting, but he thinks it is na\u00efve just to advocate for sports betting just as a means of funding the pension system. \u201cI am for sports betting because I think we already have sports betting. It is called pari-mutuel betting on horse racing. It is a natural extension of that. I think we should have it at brick and mortar facilities likes racetracks that are already engaged in it,\u201d Thayer said. \u201cI am for it because I am for it, not because I am trying to pander to a particular group of people, who think it is going to the panacea to solve our pension problem. It is not.\u201d Thayer said that he thinks there is little sentiment in the senate for expanded casino style gambling. \u201cAs someone, who has sponsored that bill in the past, pardon the pun but I think the ship has sailed on that issue,\u201d he added."}