Bill Calls for Washington Panel to be Abolished

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Legislation to abolish the Washington Horse Racing Commission and divide its responsibilities between the gambling commission and the state Department of Agriculture has been filed in the state Senate.

The bill, authored by Sen. Marilyn Rasmussen, calls for the gambling commission to oversee pari-mutuel aspects of racing, and the agriculture department to oversee "development of the equine industry...and the maintenance of race course facilities to ensure the safety of the public and the horses."

In other sections of the bill, the words "horse racing commission" are stricken.

In December, Gov. Gary Locke proposed a balanced budget that included some cuts. Along with the racing commission, Locke also proposed elimination of the Productivity Board and the Western Washington Water Assessment Team.

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