KY Citizens Against Expanded Gambling
(CAGE)
CAGE is….
CAGE is a broadly based group of citizens and organizations who share a conviction
that expanded gambling-in the form of casinos, riverboats, and video lottery-will
be contrary to the best interests of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Begun by
a group of religious organizations, churches, and public interest groups, along
with some interested citizens, CAGE is non-sectarian, does not represent any
political party, and is open to any group or individual who wishes to become
part of the movement to prevent gambling expansion in Kentucky.
Current participants in CAGE include the following
organizations:
· The Kentucky Council of Churches, representing 11 denominations: African
Methodist Episcopal Church; African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church; Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ); Christian Methodist Episcopal; Cumberland Presbyterian
Church; Episcopal Church; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Presbyterian
Church, USA; Roman Catholic Church; United Church of Christ; United Methodist
Church, plus a number of non-denominational or Baptist Churches.
· The Public Affairs Committee of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, Southern
Baptist Churches
· The Catholic Conference of Kentucky
· The Family Foundation
· The Kentucky League on Alcohol and Gambling Problems
Current steering committee members are:
Catholic Conference of Kentucky
Ed Monahan, Executive Director
Family Foundation of Kentucky
Kent Ostrander, Executive Director
Kentucky Council of Churches
Nancy Jo Kemper, Executive Director
Kentucky League on Alcohol and Gambling Problems
Dr. Howard F. Beauman, Executive Director
Public Affairs Committee, Kentucky Baptist Convention
Dr. John Chowning, Chair
Robert Reeves
Ivan Zabilka
Rev. David Green
Albert Spencer
Don Ball
JOIN US…We seek professional and trade associations, and individual members to join us. All you have to do is sign up, and be willing for your name to be used in any advertising or promotional efforts on behalf of CAGE. You can join CAGE by filling in the form on this website.
What does CAGE want?
CAGE wants to contain gambling in Kentucky, believing that new electronic and
casino forms of gambling will be very destructive to the quality of life of
our citizens. CAGE wants to educate our fellow Kentuckians about the economic,
social, and political costs of this expanded gambling, and the dangers to the
fabric of our common life which are inherent in the current explosion of gambling
activity in the United States.
CAGE participants hold a variety of positions about the morality of gambling.
We have agreed not to judge, condemn, or criticize other members of CAGE for
their particular beliefs about gambling, so that we might focus our energy on
the singular mission of containing gambling expansion.
Therefore, CAGE is opposed to gambling expansion
in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. What we share is our intention to work together
with a clear focus on the prevention of the expansion of gambling in Kentucky.
Ø We do not want casinos or riverboats operating within the boundaries
of our Commonwealth.
Ø We do not want video lottery terminals for such games as video poker
and video keno placed at any location within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. When
Kentuckians approved the lottery they did not intend to allow the Lottery Corporation
to utilize electronic forms of gambling such as VLTs. Courts have determined
in many states that VLTs, are technically and legally, slot machines.
Ø We do not want race tracks, or other existing gambling venues related
to horse racing, such as off-track-betting parlors, to be allowed to operate
slot machines, or other forms of electronic gambling devices such as video poker
or video keno, on their grounds.
Ø We do not believe that the Lottery Corporation may expand the kinds
of lottery gambling it offers to include such things as video poker, video keno,
or electronic gambling devices, without a Constitutional amendment. The citizens
of Kentucky did not mean to include such games in their approval of the lottery
in 1989. According to KRS154A.063, the statute is very clear:
"The corporation [Lottery Corporation] shall not approve and operate any
casino or similar gambling establishment and shall not approve or operate any
game played with playing cards, dice, dominos, slot machines, roulette wheels,
or where winners are determined by the outcome of a sports contest." [effective
July 1, 1990; created 1990, Ky. Acts ch. 470, sec 75, effective July 1, 1990]
Kentucky's Attorney General Ben Chandler has ruled that the legislation that
legalized the lottery did not include the use of casino games or slot machines,
and that expansion of gambling of that kind would require approval on a ballot
referendum by a majority of the voting population.
Ø We want our Representatives and Senators to take a stand on this very
important issue during the 2002 regular session of the General Assembly. We
believe that arguments suggesting "the people should decide", by way
of a referendum on any of the various suggested means of expanding gambling
in Kentucky, are not helpful. A public referendum allows elected leaders to
avoid their elected responsibilities of leadership, and opens the door for the
influx of hundreds of thousands of dollars to influence voters through public
issue advertising. We are asking our legislators to talk and listen carefully
to their constituents, and then to vote their own consciences on legislation
proposing the expansion of gambling. We do not want a public referendum. We
want to stop the drive for any gambling expansion at the legislative level.
Ø We encourage our legislators and elected officials to refuse any political
contributions from businesses related to the gambling industry. The gambling
industry is now one of the largest sources of political campaign contributions.
Until Kentucky and Kentuckians decide this highly controversial issue, we urge
our legislators to avoid any misperception that might result from accepting
campaign contributions from the gambling industry-either riverboat operators
in Indiana, Illinois and Missouri who may not want competition in Kentucky,
or from those gambling corporations who wish to gain a foothold in the Commonwealth.
Operating Principles
1. There shall be a steering committee composed of those individuals and representatives
of groups who choose to participate in the steering committee.
2. The steering committee shall elect from its participants a moderator and
a treasurer, and two signatures shall be required on checks for every expenditure.
Donors who contribute more than $250 per gift, will receive a copy of the financial
statement. At the end of the year 2000, CAGE will submit its financial records
for audit.
3. CAGE will be formed as a "public issues" committee, at such time
as legislation is filed pertaining to our concerns, and when we are legally
required to submit documentation about our group. These documents will be reviewed
by legal counsel to insure that CAGE conforms to the law in every regard.
4. CAGE will, therefore, not qualify for "deductible" contributions,
although we will be a non-profit organization.
5. No officer of CAGE shall receive remuneration for his or her services.
6. CAGE may contract with individuals to provide professional services in the
area of secretarial assistance, public relations consultation, or lobbying,
as it deems necessary to achieve its goals.
7. CAGE will solicit donations from individuals and organizations to the extent
that such funds are needed to finance the campaign to achieve the goals of CAGE.
At the conclusion of CAGE's work, any remaining funds in the CAGE treasury will
be distributed as determined by vote of all members, probably to organization(s)
which help compulsive and problem gamblers in Kentucky. Financial contributions
are not required to join CAGE, but such support will help us significantly.
Advocates for expanded gambling have endless supplies of money.
8. CAGE is non-sectarian, and non-partisan with regard to politics.
For more info e-mail: njk@kycouncilofchurches.org