Friday, June 19, 2009 1:14 pm

The House of Representative spent several hours debating House Bill 2, the slots at the track bill. Members passionate for and against made sincere appeals to their fellow legislators to follow them. Those opposed complained bitterly that making the vote about schools and military tax breaks concealed the true purpose of the bill. The final speaker, a GOP legislator predicted a return in two years for table games and two years thereafter for a "Mustang Ranch", an allusion to the famous prostitution establishment. 
Weary members reacted with cheers.
In the end, it looked like the bill passed 52-45. That's a narrow margin, considering the House has 65 Democrats to 35 Republicans.