TOPEKA, KS—MAY 19, 2015—With a bill to support horse racing stalling in legislation, Kansas horsemen are urged to call their legislators today and speak in support of the bill.

Kansas House leadership needs to be urged to move this legislation out of committee and onto the House floor before this legislative session ends. Yesterday (May 18) HB 2074 was procedurally maneuvered by Speaker Ray Merrick into the Calendar and Printing Committee with no votes taken. Speaker Merrick controls this committee. The bill will remain there until he allows it to move out.

At a time when the State of Kansas is mired in economic pitfalls, we need to emphasize, once again, what a tremendous economic impact horse racing has in the State. Our budget is in a shambles. No one can seem to agree on a remedy to cure the problem. The certainty is that our state constitution prohibits action to avoid balancing the budget on an annual basis.

There is no downside to reducing the state tax requirement of 40 percent for a racing facility to 22 percent, which is what the destination casinos are now paying. The Woodlands racing facility in Kansas City didn’t close the doors; the Kansas Legislature closed the doors when they imposed this unfair tax rate on existing racing facilities in an ever-changing market in 2007.

Please reach out to your representative. Your phone calls and emails can make a difference! If you don't know who your Representative is, CLICK HERE or visit www.kslegislature,org.