Senate Passes Table Games - Update II

Senators voted 20-13 this afternoon (1 absence) to pass an amended version of the House-approved racetrack table games bill.

The bill returned the House, but delegates did not take up the amended bill during its evening session. A conference committee to resolve the dueling versions seems likely.

As I reported in The Associated Press story, the vote strayed from party lines. Four of the 11 Senate Republicans voted for the bill, while six of the majority Democrats opposed it.

MetroNews also has the story, with audio from the floor debate. The Wheeling newspapers were also on hand for the Senate vote, and have posted a report.

I also note that the latter category includes Senate leaders: Education Chairman Robert Plymale of Wayne County, Health and Human Resources Chairman Roman Prezioso of Marion County, and Finance Chairman Walt Helmick of Pocahontas County, whose committee earlier endorsed the bill.

The vote followed Monday's final debate over Senate amendments. As AP and others reported earlier, the successful amendments removed the extra percentage point to the 35 percent tax rate and restructured some of the potential revenue distributions to benefit Jefferson County (Sen. Andy McKenzie, R-Ohio, also pointed out to me yesterday that Hancock County stands to gain as well, though his county does not).

The Journal of Martinsburg focused on whether these changes will improve the bill's chances with its local lawmakers (and with voters, if it passes).

Much of Monday's talk on the Senate floor addressed the mechanics of the bill and the finances of a table games arm for the state lottery system. Foes have sought to turn the debate away from the percentages and the potential spoils. They decry the social costs of gambling, fear West Virginia is being played by the tracks' owners and urge the state to reverse its reliance on such revenues.