FRANKFORT, KY — Gov. Steve Beshear confirmed Thursday he is considering a special session in December if Harley Davidson decides to move a York, Pa., motorcycle facility to Shelbyville, Ky.
The story was first reported by The Kentucky Gazette which quoted Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, and Minority Leader Ed Worley, D-Richmond, saying Beshear had told them to clear their calendars for a possible session in the second week of December.
Worley confirmed to CNHI News Service Thursday afternoon the possibility of a special session if the motorcycle facility moves to Kentucky. He and Beshear both said a special session isn’t connected with Beshear’s call to pass legislation authorizing video lottery terminals at horse tracks.
Williams’ spokeswoman, Lourdes Baez-Schrader confirmed Williams had been told by Beshear he could call the December session. House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, is in China on a trade mission trip with the Association of State Legislative Leaders and wasn’t available for comment.
The timing places the session less than a week after a special election in 14th Senate District which will probably turn on the question of expanded gambling. The governor appointed Republican Dan Kelly to a vacant Circuit Judge’s position to create the vacancy and Democrat Jody Haydon of Bardstown and Republican Jimmie Higdon of Lebanon are running for the senate seat.
Beshear seemed to rule out placing the gambling issue on the agenda of the special session – if it occurs at all.
“We are very excited about the potential opportunity for Harley Davidson to locate a facility in the commonwealth,” Beshear said. “We are making plans related to this project and don’t know if there will be a need for a special session at this juncture. However, if there is a need for any kind of economic development project to be addressed by a special session, it would certainly be the only item on the agenda.”
When asked if that specifically excluded placing gambling from the agenda of a special session, his spokeswoman Kerri Richardson said, “Yes.”
Worley agreed.
"The special session is for economic development purposes and has absolutely nothing to do with the gaming issue," he said.
Beshear last week said the approval of four casinos in neighboring Ohio intensifies the need for lawmakers to pass his proposal for slots at the race tracks “this winter.”
He has now appointed two Republican senators who opposed expanded gambling to lucrative jobs, creating vacancies and potential pickups for Democrats who support the idea. Earlier this year, Democrat Robin Webb – who voted for the slots bill in a June special session – won a close race for the 18th Senate District seat vacated when Beshear appointed incumbent Republican Charlie Borders to the Public Service Commission.
The slots proposal is vigorously opposed by Williams – which might explain why he divulged the possible special session on an economic development issue to the Gazette.
Harley Davidson has said it is considering Shelbyville as a location for its manufacturing operation, presently based in York, Pa., and a retail outlet. Worely said the Harley Davidson board could make a decision on whether to re-locate in early December, thus the timing for a possible special session.
Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort, Ky. He may be contacted by email at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.
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