Representative Kelsey Urges Kansas Lottery to Accept Sumner County Commissioners Endorsement

IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

December 17th, 2007                                                          

Contact: Dick Kelsey

316-794-8537

Topeka – Kansas House of Representative Dick Kelsey (R-Goddard) is urging Kansas Lottery Executive Director Ed Van Petten to only consider those casino bids approved by Sumner County Commissioners. 

“It is becoming very clear that the building of casinos in South Central Kansas will be a decision solely based on the opinions and thoughts of those of the Kansas Lottery, and that should not be the case,” Representative Kelsey said.  “It is the responsibility of the Kansas Lottery to make sure those bids being considered have local support.”

Lottery Executive Director Van Petten was quoted in the Wichita Eagle on Sunday saying that bids that were previously rejected by the Sumner County Commission would now be considered by the Kansas Lottery.  Representative Kelsey believes local support during the entire selection process is vital for choosing casino sites in Kansas.    

“Any bids that do not have local support should be taken off the table for consideration.  Even though I am not a supporter of state-owned casinos in Kansas, I want to be sure that anything built will have the support of local governments and be in compliance with local, state, and federal laws”    

Kansas Senate Bill 66, “The Kansas Expanded Lottery Act,” requires the casino plan chosen by the lottery be endorsed by local government before any casino is built.   

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