House Minority Floor Leader Todd Hiett (foreground), R-Kellyville, signifies his desire to debate in opposition to Senate Bill 553, while Rep. Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, signals to speak in favor of the bill in the state Capitol in Oklahoma City on Thursday. The bill passed the state House 52-47 on Thursday.
Correction
This photo caption incorrectly reported the position of Rep. Chris Benge (at rear in photo at right), R-Tulsa, concerning Senate Bill 553. Benge voted against the proposal, which would allow three race tracks to operate electronic gambling machines and would establish a model tribal gaming compact.
But the emergency clause fails, meaning the delay will cost the state millions of dollars.
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A bill that will allow three race tracks to operate electronic gambling machines and establish a model tribal gaming compact passed the state House 52-47 Thursday.
The bill's emergency clause failed, though, which means it will not take effect until 90 days after the Legislature adjourns at the end of May.
Gov. Brad Henry said this delay could cost $25 million of the $71 million the state could collect for education under the bill. In addition to the 90-day delay, revenues would be further postponed by the compact-approval process, officials said.
The bill was approved by the Senate last week.
Rep. Clay Pope, D-Loyal, who handled the bill for House Speaker Larry Adair, D-Stilwell, held both votes on reconsideration. This gives Pope control of the bill for three legislative days.
On final passage, the bill pulled in five Republican yes votes. Six Democrats voted no. The party split in the House is 53 Democrats and 48 Republicans. Two members did not vote.
A so-called "trailer" measure will address issues raised by Rep. Wayne Pettigrew, R-Edmond, on behalf of Republicans who Pettigrew said might vote for the bill if changes were made.
Before the bill was debated, Henry, chief negotiator Scott Meacham and other proponents negotiated with Pettigrew about some members' concerns.
Henry said the trailer bill will:
- Provide more electronic games at Remington Park. The bill provides for 650. Under the agreement, this will increase by 50 games during the plan's third year and another 50 in its fifth year.
- Set aside about $250,000 for gambling prevention and treatment.
- Require tribes to pay all federal gaming fines before the state agrees to a compact. This is actually a federal requirement, officials said.
- Redefine a particular electronic gaming device to allow for either a video or mechanical screen, a move Henry said will increase the number of firms that could supply this game.
Revenues would come to the state from the electronic forms of bonanza-style bingo, instant bingo and amusement games at the tracks and tribal casinos, as well as nonhouse-banked card games offered at the casinos.
Blue Ribbon Downs and Will Rogers Downs will each be able to operate up to 250 electronic games. Fair Meadows will not offer the games but will share in revenues from 450 games at Tulsa-area tribal casinos.
Much of the debate centered on how the games will be classified under federal law and regulations. A tribal compact is not required for Class II games, which include bingo and similar games. Class III games require a compact. These include more sophisticated, Las Vegas-style games. Some proponents say the bill will clarify the status of "gray area" games now under review at the federal level.
"This is not for the kids," said Rep. Forrest Claunch, R-Midwest City, a vocal gambling opponent. "This is about government greed."
Claunch also said it would take "billions of dollars" to generate the $71 million proponents say the bill would mean for the state.
Adair said the bill would not only mean more money for education, but would help save the $1.3 billion horse industry and about 50,000 jobs.
"This is the most important measure we're going to face this decade," Adair said.
House Minority Floor Leader Todd Hiett, R-Kellyville, said the bill will expand gambling and lead to more divorces, bankruptcies and children without adequate care.
"This is most certainly a moral issue," Hiett said.
He also called the bill bad for the tracks, which would be placed under limitations not required of the tribes.
Speaking for the measure, Pettigrew said the state currently ignores the gambling that takes place at the state's 82 tribal casinos.
"We have no regulation, no revenue, no oversight, and the horsemen are dying," he said.
Henry termed the vote a victory for education, the horse industry and Oklahoma.
"It was a courageous vote," the governor said.
Mike Bailey, assistant chief of the Choctaw Nation, said officials with his tribe are grateful the bill passed.
"It's something that we've felt all along has been good for the tribes, the educators, the horsemen and the state in general," Bailey said. "We worked hard to try to make it happen, and we believe in it."
Ron Shotts, director of racing at Fair Meadows, said track officials are pleased with the outcome.
Debbie Schauf, executive director of the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association, praised the vote.
"I know what this means to so many families in Oklahoma," she said.
The vote was condemned by a spokesman for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.
"How can we claim to love our neighbor when we put the quality of life for so many at risk?" asked Ray Sanders. "The vast majority of people end up broken financially and are left picking up the pieces of their lives."
How they voted
The Oklahoma House of Representatives by a 52-47 vote Thursday approved a bill that will allow three horse racing tracks to operate electronic gambling machines and establish a model tribal gaming compact.
Here's a breakdown of the vote:
Democrats voting for the measure (47): Larry Adair, Jari Askins, Debbie Blackburn, Jack Bonny, Dan Boren, David Braddock, Neil Brannon, John Carey, James Covey, Kevin Cox, Joe Dorman, Joe Eddins, Jerry Ellis, Randall Erwin, Darrell Gilbert, Rebecca Hamilton, Terry Harrison, Jerry Hefner, Danny Hilliard, Joe Hutchison, Ron Kirby, Lucky Lamons, M.C. Leist, Al Lindley, Mike Mass, Raymond McCarter, Roy McClain, Judy Eason McIntyre, Ray Miller, Danny Morgan, Bill Nations, Bob Plunk, Clay Pope, Larry Rice, Paul Roan, Larry Roberts, Dale Smith, Glen Smithson, Barbara Staggs, Fred Stanley, Joe Sweeden, Gary Taylor, Dale Turner, Michael Tyler, Purcy Walker, Dale Wells and Jim Wilson.
Republicans voting for the measure (5): Don Armes, Bill Case, Chris Hastings, Ron Peters and Wayne Pettigrew.
Democrats voting against the measure (6): Abe Deutschendorf, Mary Easley, Ron Langmacher, Bill Mitchell, Bill Paulk and Opio Toure.
Republicans voting against the measure (41): Dennis Adkins, Thad Balkman, Chris Benge, Gus Blackwell, Kevin Calvey, Lance Cargill, Forrest Claunch, Carolyn Coleman, Odilia Dank, Frank Davis, Dale DeWitt, Stuart Ericson, Larry Ferguson, Bill Graves, Joan Greenwood, Todd Hiett, Terry Ingmire, Tad Jones, Mark Liotta, Elmer Maddux, Doug Miller, Fred Morgan, John Nance, Jim Newport, Fred Perry, Pam Peterson, Ron Peterson, Greg Piatt, Mike Reynolds, Curt Roggow, John Smaligo, Kris Steele, Leonard Sullivan, Sue Tibbs, John Trebilcock, Ray Vaughn, Mike Wilt, Susan Winchester, Robert Worthen, John Wright and Ray Young.
Excused (2): Mike O'Neal and Richard Phillips.
Marie Price (405) 528-2465