{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"The News Journal","provider_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net","title":"Let the people decide the fate of slot machines &ndash; The News Journal","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"ZCd5awxWwj\"><a href=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/let-the-people-decide-the-fate-of-slot-machines\/\">Let the people decide the fate of slot machines<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/let-the-people-decide-the-fate-of-slot-machines\/embed\/#?secret=ZCd5awxWwj\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Let the people decide the fate of slot machines&#8221; &#8212; The News Journal\" data-secret=\"ZCd5awxWwj\" 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\/2016\/02\/Mark-White.jpg","thumbnail_width":240,"thumbnail_height":213,"description":"The time has come for the Kentucky General Assembly to let the people decide the fate of slot machines and \u201chistorical wagering\u201d in the commonwealth as the state\u2019s founding fathers intended. As many of you know, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled late last year that most \u201chistorical wagering\u201d machines used at race tracks in the state didn\u2019t meet the state\u2019s parimutuel wagering guidelines and are therefore illegal. The \u201chistorical wagering\u201d machines are for all intents and purposes slot machines, which Kentucky law hasn\u2019t allowed. Those in favor of these machines know they are slot machines. Those opposed to these machines know they are slot machines. The reason this measure is of interest to local residents is because of the proposed race track that Keeneland plans to build off the Corbin bypass, which would have several of these \u201chistorical wagering\u201d machines. This measure is also of interest to local residents because Keeneland is also proposing to build an off-track site in Williamsburg that would also feature numerous \u201chistorical wagering\u201d machines in addition to a hotel and some other amenities. For those that don\u2019t know, \u201chistorical wagering\u201d was implemented as an end around the law several years ago when supporters of it couldn\u2019t get a constitutional amendment onto the ballot to allow casino gambling. The fate of these proposed facilities and the current \u201chistorical wagering\u201d at the racing facilities in the state has been kind of in limbo as the Kentucky Supreme Court first made its ruling last year about \u201chistorical wagering,\u201d and then refused to consider that ruling. This resulted in the recent passage of Senate Bill 120, which tweaks the state\u2019s definition of parimutuel betting to allow \u201chistorical wagering.\u201d Anybody want to make a bet that Senate Bill 120 will mean no more legal challenges to \u201chistorical wagering\u201d in Kentucky? Neither would I. Our state\u2019s founding fathers set up Kentucky\u2019s system of government so the people could vote on whether to change the state\u2019s constitution, such as allowing the state lottery back in the 1980s, and allowing annual sessions of the General Assembly, which used to only meet every other year. (FYI-I voted against the annual session amendment because I thought the state legislature could do less damage only meeting every other year.) Let\u2019s quit doing the silly sidestepping of the issue about slot machines, i.e., \u201chistorical wagering,\u201d and put the question directly to the people on whether they want to allow it at state race tracks and related facilities. Let\u2019s decide the issue once and for all. My money says a constitutional amendment allowing slot machines would pass overwhelmingly."}