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FEBRUARY 23, 2012 • COMMUNITY RECORDER • A7
COMMUNITY
RECORDER
Editor: Nancy Daly, ndaly@nky.com, 578-1059
EDITORIALS | LETTERS | COLUMNS | CH@TROOM
CommunityPress.com
Let Kentuckians vote on expanded gaming The right to vote. It is fundamental to us as Americans and as Kentuckians. Most often we exercise it by electing our representatives who then pass laws that govern our commonwealth and our country. Sometimes, though, an issue demands that the voters of Kentucky have more direct input. When a new law would require a change in Kentucky’s constitution, that decision must be put directly in the hands of Kentucky voters. Often, these are decisions that have such pivotal impact that they should be decided by the majority of Kentuckians – not just a majority of their representatives. That is the situation we face as we try to recapture some of the gaming dollars – Kentucky dollars – that are leaving our state by the truckload. If Kentuckians are going to spend that kind of money on entertainment, let’s spend it and tax it at home. Hundreds of millions of
dollars in tax revenue are leaving our state as thousands of Kentuckians drive to Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia Steve and elsewhere Beshear to spend their COMMUNITY entertainment RECORDER GUEST COLUMNIST dollars on gaming. Kentucky money is funding early childhood education, schools, libraries, police officers, roads and bridges in our neighboring states. It makes no sense to continue watching that happen. Furthermore, one of Kentucky’s signature industries – our equine industry – is losing stature as other states use gaming earnings to boost purses and breeders’ incentives. They’re luring race horses, broodmares and stallions away from the Horse Capital of the World, as well as the jobs that go with them. We can – and must – re-
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Speak for yourself, not on behalf of others
In response to the editorial contribution of Ms. Rowles, Covington, titled “Confusing creation story with history,” I would like to add a postscript. Ms. Rowles asserts an opinion for a “legion” of Christians, but her response does not identify the authority to speak for anyone other than herself. I respect her right to share her comments. However, I believe that we should only assert our views on a given issue and refrain from generalizing beliefs of a given class unless elected or appointed to do so. As for my opinion, I believe the first sentence in the Bible: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1-2 (NIV). To me, the remaining sentences of the Bible exist because of the first. If creation is an allegory, could grace and resurrection be allegory as well? Please don’t misunderstand the intent of this letter; it isn’t to criticize others’ views or the right to express them. I also don’t want to spark a theological debate in this column. These conversations can be passionately charged for a variety of reasons; the matter will not be resolved with a barrage of editorial content from each side. I simply want to request that we each only assert our own opinions on a given matter and refrain from speaking on behalf of a certain group (i.e. “legion of Christians”) unless duly appointed to do so.
Clayton James Florence
Legislation is flawed
During the recent Northern Kentucky Day Event of the Chamber of Commerce, it was reported that both David Williams and Greg Stumbo expressed opposition to the Beshear gambling amendment. I was delighted to see this kind of bipartisan work against flawed legislation and potentially damaging constitutional language. The House made a promise under the leadership
verse that trend. That is why I, along with many of our legislators from both political parties, propose to give the voters of Kentucky the opportunity to allow similar types of expanded gaming in our commonwealth, and keep that money inside our borders. This week, Sen. Damon Thayer and I introduced a constitutional amendment in the state Senate that would allow you – the citizens of this state – the opportunity to decide if our state should reap the benefits of expanded gaming in Kentucky. This bill is co-sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate. A change to Kentucky’s constitution would require the approval of an amendment during the next general election, in November. Before that vote can happen, your senators and representatives in Frankfort will have to decide to put it on the ballot. Only then do you get to exercise your right and make your voice heard in how
we chart the future in Kentucky. The proposed biennial budget is bleak, thanks to a sagging national economy and slow-torecover state revenues. All the big cost-saving measures have been taken. Deep and painful cuts are being made across state government. Even critical areas like education will see some reductions, though not as much as most state services. Agencies and services will be cut to the bone. We are running a real risk of taking steps backward in multiple areas – education, public protection, job creation – and until our state generates more revenue, we will always fall behind. It’s simply time for us to decide where we want to go as a state. We can muddle along, and we can keep our head just above water. But is just getting by enough for our families, for our children, or for our future? We don’t think so. If we want to attack the fundamental weak-
nesses that have held our state back for generations, it has to begin with more revenue. We can step out and really attack these persistent weaknesses such as education, health and job training. We can do it by getting expanded gaming on the ballot and letting people vote on it this November. We’ve all heard arguments for or against allowing expanded gaming in Kentucky. But what we haven’t heard is one single reason why Kentuckians shouldn’t be allowed to vote on it and make the decision themselves. Those elected officials who disagree with expanded gaming should not deny their fellow citizens the right to vote on the issue. Kentuckians deserve the opportunity to cast their ballots and have their votes counted on this important question. We want to hear your voices on this issue in November. Steve Beshear is the governor of Kentucky.
DIXIE HEIGHTS SENIORS AT THE CAPITOL
ABOUT LETTERS AND COLUMNS We welcome your comments on editorials, columns, stories or other topics important to you in the Community Recorder. Include your name, address and phone number(s) so we may verify your letter. Letters of 200 or fewer words and columns of 500 or fewer words have the best chance of being published. All submissions may be edited for length, accuracy and clarity. Deadline: Noon Monday E-mail: kynews@community press.com Fax: 283-7285. U.S. mail: See box below Letters, columns and articles submitted to the Community Recorder may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.
of Rep. Bill Donnermeyer years ago, and I think they should uphold that and allow the people to decide. It was also noted that Sen. David Williams criticized the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce for being single-minded in their support of the expansion of gaming. The Chamber is supposed to be a pro-business organization with multiple issues such as tax reform, prevailing wage and job creation. I applaud Williams’ criticism of the Chamber and its singled-minded approach. I also applaud Stumbo’s comments against “giving one industry a monopoly” and changing a constitution that would “provide a license to one industry.” I found it shocking that the Northern Kentucky Chamber President Steve Stevens even spoke to this criticism and said that “we are not talking about it out loud, but we will when we believe the time is right.” Aside that a business association does not set the agenda or timing of such, we all know that the timing for growth and job creation is now.
COMMUNITY
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Kevin Sell Alexandria
A publication of
Dixie Heights High School seniors Lydia Voss, Emily Benken and Sascha Dovenbarger present their bill for public education reform at the State Capitol in the Senate for the Kentucky Youth Assembly in December 2011. THANKS TO CINDY BENKEN
Library offers homework help I feel like February is one of the busiest times of the year for my family. We have the regional speech competition, indoor soccer, the Odyssey competition just around the corner, school projects due, lots of tests (my seventh-grader has four this week), the Pinewood Derby and so much more. It’s hard to keep everything straight, do all the research for projects and to keep up on all the homework and tests. Luckily, the Kenton County Public Library is able to help us with its database offerings. My children, now 10 and 12, quickly learned that they could access almost all of the library databases from their home or school computer with just their library card number and an online connection. They use WorldBook Encyclopedia Online, CultureGrams and Student Research Center to research topics for papers and projects. They use Mango Languages when they want help with Spanish or to learn about other cultures. But the database they probably use the most is Learning Express. Learning Express offers practice tests and study help for math, reading, science,
social studies, writing, grammar and more. This is a great way for children to keep up on their studies, practice Gina for upcoming Holt tests and work at home with COMMUNITY RECORDER GUEST their parents COLUMNIST or siblings. My children often use this together, which means my younger child is even learning advanced skills. Learning Express also offers free ACT, SAT, GRE and GED practice tests and study help. With the ACT coming up in March for so many, this would be a great way for kids to prepare at no cost. It is even instantly scored. The database offers workplace skills improvement, occupation practice tests and skillbuilding for adults. This includes practice tests and study help for cosmetology, real estate, electrical, culinary arts, emergency medical services and many others. There are also tests, courses and e-Books on resume writing, interviewing, grammar and writing improvement and personal fi-
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nance, math, reading, science and public speaking skills. Learning Express also offers software tutorials in Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Microsoft Word, Publisher, Outlook, Excel, WordPerfect and more. People will learn at their own pace with interactive tutorial courses on today's most popular software and operating systems. Each course offers detailed, easy-to-follow instructions with audio and captions for the program and skill level of the participants’ choice. This database is truly amazing and makes homework and studying much easier at my home. It even helps us with research for the Odyssey of the Minds project and speeches for competition. If you or children aren’t using it yet, you should be. All you need is your Kenton County Public Library card number and an online connection. Or stop by the library and use one of its computers. Visit www.kentonlibrary.org/ databases and choose the database or category in Learning Express you want to use. Gina Holt is the public relations coordinator for the Kenton County Library System.
Community Recorder Editor Nancy Daly ndaly@nky.com, 578-1059 Office hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday See page A2 for additional contact information.