Mike Denham and the Ledger

[ponto]

Mike Denham was one of a select few members of the General Assembly who returned campaign contributions given him by the Kentucky Equine Education Project and the Ledger gave him a thumbs up in the editorial section (http://www.maysville-online.com/articles/2006/01/08/opinion/editorial/821denham.txt) of the Newspaper.

This is interesting, as one of the Ledger writers is the Mason County representitives of the KEEP project.

If you visit their website (http://www.horseswork.com/) you can see that this group is much more than just "gambling".

They are helping the horse industry and agri business in many ways.

The Kentucky Equine Education Project's Grassroots Committee, in its efforts to educate people of the Commonwealth about the importance of horses to the state’s economy, is spreading the word to each of the 120 counties in Kentucky.

As part of this outreach, the board of directors of KEEP has allocated $125,000 in grant funds to help local horse organizations, 4-H equine clubs and educational institutions promote horses.

Non-profit, Kentucky-affiliated horse clubs (Saddle Clubs, breed organizations, etc) qualify for $500 grants for shows for such items as class sponsorship and ribbons and trophies.

KEEP will also provide up to $250 for program advertising. 4H horse clubs can qualify for up to $400 in funding.

[kdown]

We've got the same issue in New York. No casinos. Gambling is bad, it's bad for the communities, bad for gamblers, etc. Yet we've got horse race betting up your gazoo. OTB everywhere, OTB on TV, hundreds and hundreds of Lottery tickets at thousands of locations,
three casinos on Indian reservations and bingo in a thousand church basements.

Yet the NY legislature still contends - NO Gambling In NY

Three casinos in Atlantic City will soon pass 750 billion in revenue, second only to Las Wages. Millions and millions of this is New York money.

Kentucky is in the same boat.

Kentucky Horse Racing Tracks

Churchill Downs
Thoroughbred Track

Ellis Park
Thoroughbred Track

Keeneland
Thoroughbred Track

Kentucky Downs
Thoroughbred Track

Players Bluegrass Downs
Standardbred Track

The Red Mile
Standardbred Track

Thunder Ridge
Standardbred Track

Turfway Park
Thoroughbred Track

Add lottery tickets, bingo, etc = gambling in Kentucky

Over 500,000 Kentuckians visit a gambling casino in another state four or more times a year.

It's a choice issue. One can choose to visit a casino or one can choose to stay away.

Get on with it !

[Chuck]

I would give Mike Denham a BIG Thumbs Up for returning these campaign contributions. This is a form of lobbing for votes on bills.

KEEP does do good for all but lobbying with campaign contributions is something I have always been against on any level of Government.

Mr. Denham not excepting these contributions tells me he will vote the way we want as opposed to the way KEEP wants.

I don't personally care on the issue. But this move to me represents a very strong integrity.

WAY TO GO MIKE. Regardless of how you vote sir, I know it will be a clean vote.

[Anonymous Coward]

I say bring on the Gambling. It is the same with the Sunday Liquor sales. Have we as a communtiy seen an increase in drinking and driving, abuse, or anything else?

Go ahead, start throwing stuff at AC!!

[mark]

I say bring on the Gambling. It is the same with the Sunday Liquor sales. Have we as a communtiy seen an increase in drinking and driving, abuse, or anything else?

Go ahead, start throwing stuff at AC!!


That topics was hotly debated recently on this website. I came out on the opposite side of most posts so I won't start it again.
You can read all about it below:

http://www.maysvillekybbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3527&highlight=sunday+sales

6 pages of goooood reading. Good luck................see ya mark

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah I read that. That is why I said go ahead and start throwing stuff at AC..lol... But the question was; has the sale of Sunday alcohol increased alcohol related crimes? I think it has not. So what is the problem? I know there are alot of Christians on this site, and my religous preference is not up for debate, but still, I feel if you are a Chrisitan than your money will not be spent at these places and therefore since you will not be supporting them you should not worry about them being built here... but that is just my 2 cents. Aren't you all glad I am not a member of the senate or mayor or even governor? Ha Ha Ha

[Chuck]

I don't care one way or the other. I don't drink, I don't gamble. But I also don't think I should have the right to stop others that do want these things.

Just cause Mr. Denham did except a contribution doesn't mean he is opposed to gambling or against KEEP.

[Anonymous Coward]

That was my next question, I read the article, does anyone know why he returned the money?

[Chuck]

I have to guess cause I did not ask. But I think he doesn't like outside contribution. I heard that 3 party last election.