Posted January 22nd, 2010 5:58 am

10 days. That is how long it took for Republican State Senate President David Williams referendum to fail in the state senate. As was noted when it was introduced:

At least clarity of the situation has been provided. Williams has also been caught in a … well, if not a lie, at a minimum at least a complete contradiction of his previous promise last October, when he told the horse industry his constitutional amendment would not prohibit any new versions of currently legal games.

Yesterday, his clumsy move collapsed under its own weight:

FRANKFORT – The state Senate voted along party lines Thursday in defeating Senate President David Williams’ measure that would require a constitutional amendment before gambling could be expanded in the state.
…
Republicans outnumber Democrats in the Senate 20-17, with independent Bob Leeper of Paducah generally siding with the GOP. Sen. Joey Pendleton, D-Hopkinsville, was absent for Thursday’s vote.
There was no floor debate on Williams’ Senate Bill 2 but Sen. Kathy Stein, D-Lexington, said in explaining her vote that the measure was a referendum and noted that Williams has consistently said Kentucky is not a referendum state.
Williams later said Stein’s statement was “ridiculous,” and maintained that his measure was not a referendum.
…
“Anyone who did not vote for that amendment and claims they are against the expansion of gambling might have a hard time in explaining that vote,” Williams said.

No, anyone who did vote for that amendment—and that includes every single Republican and Leeper—has put their opposition to the horse industry on the record. Kentucky should at last be grateful that David Williams has inadvertently identified with a full floor vote the senators who voted against the horse industry. The legislative record has now been clearly made. The House has introduced again legislation permitting expanded gaming. The Senate majority voted for legislation to add an extra two constitutional amendments to allow expanded gaming. The situation, once again, has clarity. That will provide for some clear-cut choices in November.

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