TOPEKA, Kansas (AP) — The Kansas Senate has rejected a proposal to ban smoking at state-owned casinos as it debates a bill for bringing one to the state’s southeast corner.
Senators voted 22-15 Tuesday against an amendment from Kansas City Democrat David Haley. State law bars smoking in many public places, and Haley said casinos should face the same rule.
Even some senators who liked the idea voted “no” to preserve a compromise embodied in the bill. It encourages a southeast Kansas casino but repeals a law authorizing slot machines at racetracks.
Kansas requires a developer for a Pittsburg-area casino to invest $225 million. Backers of such a project say the threshold is too high, and the bill would drop it to $50 million.
Senators expected to vote on the bill Tuesday evening.
