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Political Foes Unite Over Casino Issue

KANSAS – As reported by the Lawrence Journal-World: "They say politics makes strange bedfellows.

"…Take, for instance, Tim Shallenburger, who lost the 2002 gubernatorial election to Democrat Kathleen Sebelius, and who now is chairman of the Kansas Republican Party.

"Shallenburger's current employer, American Bank in southeast Kansas, his home county of Cherokee, and his local chamber of commerce want casino gambling.

"So Shallenburger, an opponent of gambling when he was in the Legislature, is now working with key lawmakers to get a gambling bill passed this legislative session, as is Sebelius.

"…The bill being drafted would authorize casinos in the Kansas City, Kan., and southeast Kansas areas, and add slot machines at pari-mutuel tracks in Kansas City, Kan., Wichita and Pittsburg.

"…Efforts to expand casino gaming in Kansas have been repeatedly rejected by legislators, but some Capitol handicappers are giving casino gambling better odds this year because of a recent study that concluded the state needs to come up with approximately $470 million more for schools…"

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