Governor Beshear Touts Tax Code Revamp and Expanded Gambling

In a bid to realize more revenue, Gov. Steve Beshear is renewing his push to revamp Kentucky’s tax code and the proposal for legalizing expanded gambling.

At present, Kentucky is struggling to make progress after years of budget cuts have hindered education, health care and human services. The state’s governor, Steve Beshear is renewing his push for a tax modernization proposal.

The proposed constitutional amendment would give Kentucky’s cities and counties the authority of impose a local sales tax as a means to raise more revenue to meet the needs of the state.

On a more controversial note, Beshear desires to revisit his campaign to legalize gambling through legislature, which proposes to allow Kentucky voters to decide whether casino gambling should be legalized.

Kentucky governor proposes tax overhaul and expanded gambling to meet the state’s needs after years of budget cuts

Current US gambling laws only allows for a small number of states to permit casino gambling in designated areas, which at present does not include Kentucky.

It’s unclear whether Beshear is looking to limit the gambling expansion to ground casinos, or whether the proposed legalization will also include mobile betting.

However, the motion has come under opposition from those trying to block the proposed Legislature, like those in the Kentucky Baptist Convention, even though casinos have sprung up in neighboring states.

Beshear says the extra revenue is needed after $1.6 billion of spending cuts were made, which resulted in “decimating many programs and extra services that Kentuckians desperately need.”