Washington Moves to Kill the Racetrack: Anti-Gambling Bill Heads to the Governor
The House bowed to the Senate's removal of the emergency clause, sending a bill to end horse racing in Washington to the governor — while 'dry' lawmakers pushed a local-option measure late into the night.
OLYMPIA, Feb. 9 — In the House today Hansen called up his anti-racetrack gambling bill and requested that the House concur in the Senate amendment striking out the emergency clause. The House concurred, with only two members voting no. This places the bill ready for engrossing and for the governor's signature, and puts an end to the racing game in Washington.
The House got down to business early and the 'drys' announced that they will continue sessions late into the evening, if necessary, so that they can put the local option bill on final passage before adjournment tonight.
“This places the bill ready for engrossing and for the governor's signature, and puts an end to the racing game in Washington.”
A century before Washington's current debates over sports betting and gambling expansion, lawmakers used a late-session maneuver to shut down an entire industry. The fight over local option also shows how moral reform was fought town by town, not just in the Capitol.
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