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The following column appeared in the Tuesday, March 20 edition of the Charleston Daily Mail.West Virginia lawmakers have wrapped up the 2007 legislative session, and the major piece of legislation emerging from the 60-day session was the bill permitting racetracks to add table games, pending approval by voters of the four counties where the tracks are located.In the last election, the gambling interests spent nearly $400,000 in direct contributions to their favored candidates, and who knows how many thousands more in indirect, unreported support.They were rewarded with legislation that means the first step in expanding gambling in a way that will change our state forever, if voters eventually approve table game referendums. In fact, the Associated Press recently reported that West Virginia will join only one other state -- Iowa -- in regard to allowing venues that provide racing, slots and table games in the same locations.It is, of course, foolish to pretend, as the Democrats do, that when voters approved the lottery two decades ago they were also giving their assent to table games. But our lawmakers have chosen to take the position that the initiative at that time intended to permit whatever they mean it to say today.Court challenges will undoubtedly result, and rightfully so. Voters all over the state, not just in four counties, deserve the opportunity to express their will in regard to this massive gamble of our state's future. The gambling interests have promised hundreds of jobs and vast economic expansion in return for the ability to provide table games. It was truly fascinating to watch as the promises piled up and various regions saw the pot sweetened in exchange for the support of the table games legislation.A few more thousand promised here, a few more thousand promised there -- and pretty soon, the votes were in order and the critics were scolded for not caring about jobs or the economy.For me and many others, our increasing reliance on gambling to solve our economic problems sends a terrible signal to our children and grandchildren. But, sadly, this gambling expansion should have been expected from a state whose TV and radio commercials ask us to play the West Virginia Lottery, but to "play responsibly," while at the same time buying billboards offering help if you are a problem gambler. There are sound, proven and lasting ways to grow a state's economy, but most Democratic legislators refused to address those methods in any meaningful way.Decisive reductions in taxes have proven time and again to encourage new investment and expand the economy, but the Democrats did little but nibble around the edges of meaningful tax reforms. Instead, they cast their lot with the gambling lobbyists, and opened the door to a new era of government preying even further on one of the most addictive and destructive behaviors known to society.Aside from gambling legislation, were there any other major accomplishments this session?Clearly, no. Long-sought pay raises were cobbled together for teachers and state workers, but not enough to forestall more headaches on this issue in the near future. Lawmakers agreed to sell tobacco bonds in the hopes of a $750 million windfall rather than a higher payout drawn out over a longer period of time.West Virginians will have to keep paying the state's "temporary" gas tax, a few more judges were added around the state, and the privilege tax, which should be eliminated, was instead softened somewhat by a provision that would help new residents avoid it, which was better than nothing.But completely ignored by this Legislature were social conservatives of all parties, with pro-life bills ignored and gambling initiatives front and center. In the end, it is the table games legislation for which this session will be remembered. In essence, voters chose a legislature in the 2006 elections that decided the best way to represent their constituents this session was to expand our state's ability to attract gamblers. Over the next few months, the Republican Party will begin recruiting candidates for the 2008 election. I personally invite any Republican to step forward who will fight for the kind of economic development our state desperately needs -- candidates who believe in lower taxes, a fairer court system, an economic climate that encourages businesses to locate here that provide good-paying jobs and benefits, and the conservative values our state holds dear. By November 2008, voters deserve to have a clear choice between candidates who want to do their jobs by reforming our tax and judicial systems and promoting our shared values, or candidates who believe their primary responsibility is to cater to those who operate the racetracks, slot machines and table games.McKinney is chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party. 
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Gov. Joe Manchin on Wednesday signed the Manchin Gambling Act of 2007, effectively opening the doors of West Virginia to table games and making the state one of only two in the nation that would feature racing, slots and table games at the same locations.Manchin and the gambling industry campaigned hard in 2006 to elect pro-gambling candidates, and their efforts paid off during the regular session when lawmakers OK'd the table games bill.Meanwhile, Ohio County officials are rushing forward with a vote on table games, targeting June 9 for a special election they hope will bring additional gambling activities to the state.Former Vice President and environmental whacko Al Gore chose to show up 30 minutes late for his appearance before a House committee Wednesday so he could skip opening remarks by Republican committee members who question his conclusions on global warming.Gore's attitude toward those who disagree with him continues to demonstrate the mindset he and his fellow liberals bring to the debate, which they insist is no debate at all. For Gore and his cohorts, they are right, everyone else is wrong, and they don't want to hear anything from anyone else.Unfortunately for Gore, he could not avoid listening to opposing viewpoints once he actually arrived. During questioning, Republican Rep. Joe Barton told Gore, "On this point, Mr. Vice President, you're not just off a little, you're totally wrong." The possibility of a presidential campaign foray by former Senator and actor Fred Thompson is gaining steam, with a draft committee officially formed and Republicans looking for someone who excites its base.So far, none of the announced candidates, including Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney, have noticeably stirred the GOP faithful. Thompson, though, with his conservative credentials, impressive personal presence and practiced oratory skills, could bring an excitement that has been lacking.A source with close ties to the state highway department on Wednesday disputed an explanation by a DOH official about the reason the state is preparing to auction millions of dollars worth of equipment.On Tuesday, transportation secretary Paul Mattox told MetroNews the equipment was being auctioned because "this equipment sits idle," and the DOH can use the proceeds for road paving and bridge replacement. (Related story.)But a source with extensive knowledge of the DOH on Wednesday told the Republican Gazette that explanation doesn't fly."I have never heard of there ever being a surplus of equipment -- ever," said the source, adding, that under theThe source again expressed the suspicion that the real motive of the sale is to contract out more highway work, noting, "When the milling equipment was sold the contractor (who) bought it at the sale paid for it on a state contract within the first month." The source said that over the past couple of years, DOH workers have been assigned more "waste of time" work like brush clearing and tree cutting, rather than more important work using the equipment that's now on the auction block. 