A bipartisan group of Georgia senators proposed a constitutional amendment Wednesday to legalize gambling on horse racing.
The move comes as hopes of passage on the issue this year have faded. A similar proposal stalled in the House going into this year's session, where it still languished in committee despite two weeks until Crossover Day on March 7 -- the deadline for most bills to pass from one chamber to the other to have a realistic shot of approval.
Gov. Nathan Deal has also repeatedly said he would not support any effort to expand gambling in Georgia.
Still, Sen. Ron Ramsey, D-Decatur, who sponsored the amendment, said it is worth the try.
"This gives us an opportunity to create another revenue stream for education," Ramsey said. "I know this is going to be an uphill endeavor. If it works, great -- we can go along and expand it. If it doesn't, at least we tried."
Supporters have said legalized gambling would bring in new revenue for popular programs -- such as the state's HOPE college scholarship program and pre-k classes -- without raising taxes.
Senate Resolution 1025 would allow a public vote on amending the state constitution to allow parimutuel betting. It requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to pass. With it, legislators can vote to put the measure on the ballot without Deal's signature.
SR 1025 also would allow the state to pilot gambling on horse racing at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers. The park opened in 1995 and served as the equestrian venue during the 1996 Olympics, which Atlanta hosted.
State Rep. Harry Geisinger, R-Roswell, sponsored the horse racing amendment in the House -- House Resolution 186. Geisinger has continued to push to gather support. In November, he brought in former Breeders' Cup board Chairman Bill Farish and Nick Nicholson, president and CEO of Kentucky's Keeneland Association, to meet with Deal and talk about potential economic benefits for Georgia.
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