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. CAGE is an acronym for "Citizens Against Gambling Expansion."

Current members in the CAGE coalition 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 and 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 CAGE steering committee members are:

• Ed Monahan, Executive Director of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky
• Kent Ostrander, Executive Director of the Family Foundation of Kentucky
• Nancy Jo Kemper, Executive Director of the Kentucky Council of Churches
• Dr. Howard F. Beauman, Executive Director of the Kentucky League on Alcohol and Gambling Problems
• Dr. John Chowning, Chair of the Public Affairs Committee, Kentucky Baptist Convention
• Robert Reeves of the Kentucky Baptist Convention's Public Affairs Committee
• 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 printing and mailing the form that appears here.

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.

• We do not want casinos or riverboats operating within the boundaries of our Commonwealth
  
• 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.
  
• 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.
  
• 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.
  
• 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.
  
• 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.

What are the Operating Principles of CAGE?

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.

Who can I contact for more information about CAGE?
The current communications officer is:

The Rev. Dr. Nancy Jo Kemper,
Executive Director, Kentucky Council of Churches

1500 Leestown Road
Lexington, KY 40511
Telephone: 859-269-7715
Fax: 859-269-1240
e-mail: njk@kycouncilofchurches.org

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