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Greyhound racing moves to the brink, but Justice says he wants to keep it

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Bills to eliminate the state’s role in funding greyhound racing passed finance committees in both the House and Senate on Wednesday.

But if the measure winds up passing both houses, Gov. Jim Justice says his preference is to keep greyhound racing in West Virginia.

Jim Justice

“Now we can live without the dogs. And if the dogs are a pivotal point, I’d let the dogs go,” Justice said this morning during a ‘war room’ session on the state budget.

“But here’s the thing, everything we take away it’s almost like me saying, ‘You in West Virginia, don’t you know your place? You’re not good enough to have the dogs.'”

Justice went on to describe other programs that, conceivably, could be taken away if times get particularly tight. His examples included trout stocking, Promise Scholarships and the State Police.

He concluded, “I think we’re good enough to have everything.”

The Republican majority in the Legislature is looking at about $15 million from the greyhound racing de-coupling measure to be transferred to the general fund. It’s a component of their framework to balance the state budget for the coming fiscal year.

The bills passed today in the Senate and House finance committees would end the greyhound breeders fund and the purses for greyhound racing winners and transfer the money to the state Excess Lottery Revenue Fund for appropriation by the Legislature.

Money in the fund comes from a portion of video lottery and table gambling revenue at the Wheeling and Charleston casinos.

The bills considered in both houses would allow the racetracks to keep their other gaming licenses if there is no longer greyhound racing on site — and also to apply and receive gaming licenses should they move to another location within their existing counties.

The bills, which would go into effect July 1, would set aside $1 million for a greyhound adoption fund, anticipating that many of the greyhounds currently racing might be in sudden need of care.

Isaac Sponaugle

Delegate Isaac Sponaugle asked in the House Finance session what would be the result if the state withdraws from the breeders fund and purses associated with greyhound racing.

“Could it survive?” asked Sponaugle, D-Pendleton.

“No, it ends it,” responded Steve Sarras, president of the West Virginia Kennel Owners Association. “No one could afford to race.”

Sponaugle later said he thinks the attractiveness of the $15 million as a patch for the budget crisis overlooks the economic impact of greyhound racing in the longer term.

“We’re just grabbing something to plug a hole temporarily,” Sponaugle said. “I just think It’s shortsighted.”

Erikka Storch

Delegate Erikka Storch, a Republican from Ohio County, said the greyhound track at Wheeling Island, is the fifth-largest employer in her district and she is concerned. She asked what might be the costs of the bill in unemployment or pension issues.

“I think we are looking at the potential gain and not looking at the potential cost,” Storch told the committee. “There is some true expense to eliminating this fund and it’s not going to be just an easy $15 million wash.”

Today was the Senate Finance Committee’s third look at the bill. Voting was delayed twice to tinker with some of the language.

As members of the committee considered the bill this afternoon, Alan Pritt of the West Virginia Kennel Association described the effects of the bill in terms of unintended financial consequences.

“We understand we are in a budget crisis. We understand the issue is money, but quite frankly this is going to cost more than it’s going to get,” Pritt said.

“For many (greyhound industry people) this is a life, this is their lifestyle. This is no different than a farmer. They are going to where they can race greyhounds and we’re going to lose a lot of people.”

After the Senate vote, the Grey2K organization that lobbies against greyhound racing issued a statement of support.

“This is a critical step, both for the humane treatment of our canine friends and to ensure that West Virginia citizens no longer spend millions backing a Depression-era style of gambling that is no longer popular,” stated Christine Dorchak, president and general counsel of GREY2K USA.

“Hundreds of dogs are injured and killed every year for the perverse enjoyment of a dwindling few old-time gamblers. No matter where someone stands on the issue of gambling, it doesn’t require the maiming of beautiful dogs in order to operate the state’s casinos. Forty states have already said no to this inhumane form of entertainment.”

Ron Stollings

During the morning ‘war room’ session in the governor’s office, Senator Ron Stollings said he was worried about the people whose livelihoods depend on dog racing.

“These are real world situations that affect people in their homes,” said Stollings, D-Boone.

Governor Justice responded that it’s also a cultural and economic issue.

“It’s people that come to our state, spend money, get out of the house, spend money, like to do it,” Justice said.

“It’s part of our economy. To just say ‘We don’t need the dogs, let’s just get rid of the dogs,’ it goes way beyond that.”

 





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