Late Monday word spread around the Capitol that the state Senate Republican Caucus chose to block Sen. Brandon Beach’s (R-Alpharetta) proposal for a statewide referendum to allow limited horse racing in Georgia. And the the horse “you know what” started to hit the wall.
Powerful GOP agribusiness leaders had hoped the bill’s momentum would allow them to stay quietly in the background as the bill received clearance to move forward as a “totally in the hands of the legislature” effort.
The move could endanger support in the one area of the state where Republicans now must rely for statewide victories…rural Georgia. “The Senate has been a show off do nothing chamber for a good number of years now” one of the most powerful GOP donors told InsideAdvantage late Monday night. “We had hoped that with a new leader things could get on track, but we are left holding our breath.”
While a gaming bill is still possible coming from the House, agribusiness will have to hang its hopes on the House and a possible amendment to any gaming bill it might produce.
“I don’t think these folks (in the Senate) understand the massive economic shot in the arm that horse racing could bring to areas that have suffered from disasters from weather and tough recovery from that big recession” the source stated. “They are just plain out of touch. Thank the Lord we have real leadership in the House.”
Both the casino resort effort in the House and horse racing in the Senate have until the end of Thursday’s “crossover day” to have chance of giving voters a say on the issues.
