The candidates for the special election to fill the vacant 14th District state Senate seat met last night at the PLG-TV studio in Bardstown for the first of two scheduled debates.
Rep. Jimmy Higdon (R)
A fellow student of politics and I have been discussing the debate since it ended Wednesday evening. His identity will remain anonymous, but this writer believes his observations are noteworthy, and I’ve incorporated much of his comments in mine.
Early in the 90-minute debate, Haydon implied that his opponent has been and will continue to be a “lapdog” for Senate President David Williams.
GAMING. If there was any doubt about this election serving as a referendum on expanded gaming, those doubts were quickily laid to rest. Haydon expressed his strong support for expanded gaming and other effortrs to increase revenue for the state budget.
Rep. Higdon explained his vote against Gov. Steve Beshear’s slots bill was because he believes the people of Kentucky should have a voice in the decision, and they should be allowed to vote on this issue.
HAYDON FOR GAMING. Haydon repeatedly attacked Senate President Williams for refusing to allow legislation to move forward that would allow expanded gambling. “No doubt in my mind, we are about to make another (budget) cut. And that cut will come in education,” he said. The state has lost opportunity for needed revenues, he added.
Jodie Haydon (D)
He also suggested that the Senate Republicans were blocking slots at tracks as a favor to casino lobbying groups who wanted to keep gambling away from horse tracks. Haydon said Penn National Gaming, a casino and horse track owner/operator and investor, had spent $40 million in Ohio to keep gambling away from the horse tracks. Penn National owns at least one Ohio horse track, and is currently lobbying Ohio’s governor to approve slots at the state’s tracks.
SLOTS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Hidgon pointed out the slots at the tracks – referred to as VLTs, or Video Lottery Terminals – were unconstitutional. Higdon was critical of the proposed split on the revenue gaming would generate. “The original bill gave too much money to the race tracks and not enough money to the state.”
SLOTS vs. EDUCATION FUNDING. In a discussion on education funding, Hidgon said he had supported a measure that would have given $50 million to schools; however, after he voted against the gaming bill, the funding was cut from the bill.
Haydon noted he would not have let that happen. “I would have voted for the bill — just for my schools.”
Higdon highlighted his work in economic development efforts in his home county of Marion. With the sluggish economy and projected budget shortfall, it will be necessary to cut spending and eliminate waste.
STATE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. When asked about increasing state employees’ contributions to their own health insurance, Haydon said he would not support that as a cost-cutting move. The state should move ahead on expanded gaming instead, he said, citing opinions by two Attorneys General. Higdon disagreed that expanded gaming was the answer, and that the AG opinions were just that, opinions.
Haydon scored points in the debate at the end of the exchange, saying he was all for cutting spending, but added,“You might ask some of those folks that have been cut (from state jobs) and are looking for jobs.
“I don’t think anything is going to change in Frankfort until we change some of those faces in Frankfort,” he said.
CHICKENS? Near the end of the debate, Hawydon warned viewers of the consequences of the state not allowing tracks to have slots.
If Kentucky loses what Haydon called its “No. 1 signature industry,” the state could wind up a third-world country.
“Do you know what would replace the thoroughbred horse industry as our No. 1 cash crop?” Haydon asked. “Chickens!” he said “Chickens! The Third World is where we are balancing today if we don’t find a way to take our state by the ears and pull it into the next century.”
Hidgon noted he had worked on another of Kentucky’s signature industries: Bourbon. He helped lead an effort against legislation to place additional taxes on bourbon. That effort was unsuccessful.
In his closing statement, Higdon warned that giving the Democratic Party control of both the Kentucky House and Senate was not in the state’s best interest.
“Right now we have a two-party system in Frankfort,” he said. “The single worst thing we could do is have one part in charge of the Governor’s Mansion, the House of Representatives and the Senate. We’ve seen that happen on the national scene, and I think Kentucky deserves a strong two-party system.”
Higdon promised open and honest government. “People don’t want to see us raise taxes, they want us to cut wasteful spending,” he said. “I ask that people look at my record of serving the people of my district these past seven years.”
Haydon told viewers that he wanted to improve the state and asked for their support in his bid for the Senate seat.
“The issues are tough today,” he said. “It’s all about the money, or the lack of money. I ask for your support to take back our government.”
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