Nebraska Governor vetoes bill designed to help racing

LINCOLN, NE - May 25, 2011 - Gov. Dave Heineman vetoed a bill Tuesday designed to help Thoroughbred horse racing.

Sponsors of the measure have filed motions seeking to override the governor, but LB256, the horse-racing measure, will need to pick up support for an override to succeed.

The bill, introduced by State Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber, passed with only 26 votes. It takes 30 votes to override a gubernatorial veto.

In his veto message about LB 256, Heineman pointed to a legal opinion by Attorney General Jon Bruning that concluded the bill was probably unconstitutional.

“This legislation not only contradicts the spirit of the Constitution by circumventing the requirement that licensees host live horse racing in order to conduct parimutuel wagering, but also expands gambling beyond what has currently been authorized by the voters in our Constitution,” the governor said.

He also cited the legal costs of defending the bill against a likely court challenge.

State law now requires racetracks to have at least one day of live racing to operate a simulcast betting facility, where people can place bets on races broadcast from other locations.

LB256 would allow racetracks to transfer their live racing dates to other tracks for up to 15 years without giving up their simulcast betting.

The bill was aimed at helping the state’s horse-racing industry survive after the former State Fair Park track closes in Lincoln in 2012.

Read more: The Independent