I am happy to report that the Harness Racing Study Bill has been signed into law by the Gov and has become

"Public Law 2007, chapter 611". This study, now law, will be very beneficial to the industry and will give the Harness Racing Commission the tools they need to properly regulate. The results of the study will also raise the integrity of the sport and help  to level the playing field for all.

We have had much success this session of the Legislature and thank you to all those that worked so hard  to let the Legislature know  we are serious about our sport and its future. We are in our last days of session and the hours are long and I will be glad to see the end perhaps late tonight or early tomorrow morning.

Look forward to seeing you all the the races. So long for know.

Our language to protect our money that was in the Gov's supplemental budget LD 2289 was passed and signed into law by the Gov on March 31, 2008 and will become active law on July 1st 2008.

The study bill is on the House calendar for Tuesday 4/8/08 and I expect it to just go under the hammer with no debate but you never know. When I arrived at the State House this morning I was told the Dept of Public Safety (State Police) had attached a fiscal note to the bill of $190,000 for each of the next two years. Needless to say I worked most of the day with the Dept of Public Safety and got the fiscal note removed from the bill. What apparently happened is someone misunderstood the agreement between the Dept of Agric and Public Safety to work together on positive drug cases. The  folks at Public Safety thought they had to hire a new detective with car and laptop to do the investigative work. When the actual agreement allowed the commission to do it and request the State Police when needed. Therefore we were able to remove and fiscal note and move the bill forward. Everything is on track again at present. Will let you know how the bill progresses.

The bill that would allow a Casino in Oxford County came before the Legal & Vets Committee today and they voted the bill out today "OUGHT NOT TO PASS". It will now go to referendum vote this fall. The legislature has decided they don't want to deal with it and the proponents of the legislation have collected enough signatures (55,000) plus to force the vote of the people.

The Indian Island slot machine bill has passed the house on a very positive vote and is now stuck between the House and Senate. Even if it passes both chambers the Gov says he will veto it. I will keep you all posted in its progress.

Hello Folks from The House Chamber: The budget bill passed both the House and Senate last night late and is now on its way to the Gov's for his signature.

Our language was in the document and it passed along with the budget so we (the industry) now have protection of our funds in dedicated revenue accounts. This protection makes it more difficult and somewhat uncomfortable for the legislature

to try and sweep our money or to use it to close budget gaps and or fund a general revenue budget. For that protection the industry has agreed to fund the Harness Race Comm from our own funds which I believe as does the industry a good move on our part and adds credibility  for us with the Legislature. Because of our efforts and willingness to fund the the Harness Commission  it appears there wasn't any support in this current legislature to cap our Racino Funds. Thanks to all for their support. The study bill LD 2184 is in the pipeline but has not reached the House floor yet. I will keep you posted as it moves through the chambers.

The supplemental budget with our language to protect our Racino Funds has thus far cleared 42 amendments in the House and 20 amendments in the Senate and none of the amendments touched or modified our language or funds.

The House passed a majority budget on Thursday and sent it to the Senate at 4PM and they worked until 1AM Friday and sent an amended budget back to the House but the House wouldn't accept their budget as amended and the House voted to Adhere to their original budget and sent it back to them Friday morning. The Senate will absolutely not accept the House budget and they can't agree between the House and Senate on a majority budget so the Senate adjourned at 4PM on Friday and will reconvene Monday 3/31 and try to resolve the issues between the chambers. We have to pass the budget by midnight Monday. I expect we will be there until midnight trying to reach an agreement. Such Fun ! It looks like we are fine at present and there doesn't seem to be any chatter in either chamber about capping our funds or changing our language. As soon as a budget is passed I will send an update.

The Study Bill LD 2184 has left the Agric. Comm. after a unanimous vote and is on its way to the House floor this coming week. I don't expect any floor debate and hope it will just go under the hammer as they usually do with a committee unanimous report.

 

We finally have language in the Gov's budget that will protect our Racino Funds putting them into a dedicated revenue account. This will make it much more difficult and somewhat uncomfortable for the Legislature to be using our money to balance the budget and run State Government. The Budget bill will now move through both chambers for approval. I expect there may be some move to remove our language from the budget as it rec'd a 9 to 4 vote in the Approps. Comm.

and those who voted against may try to remove it with a floor amendment, We did however get allot of support from the majority party and because the industry agreed to fund the harness commission from our own racino dollars that too got us allot of support and credibility. There seems at this point no desire from the Approps. Comm. to discuss or consider putting a cap on our funds and I believe that is because of our willingness to do what we have done. For our efforts and contributions the industry has sent a message to the Legislature that we are and we want to protect the integrity and well being of our future. I think they have heard us ?

I will keep you up to date on our progress.