Racing Commission drama

The Texas Racing Commission is this month’s state government drama queen.

Its leaders manufactured a crisis by approving historical racing (gambling on previously run races using devices similar to slot machines) at horse and dog tracks, knowing full well that lawmakers like to keep tight reins on gambling across the state.

State Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, a gambling opponent and the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said there would be no new funding. The commission should have reversed its historical racing decision right away, but didn’t.

The Legislative Budget Board now has control over the funding, and the commission won’t reconsider historical racing until Aug. 25. This year’s funding ends Aug. 31.

Receiving no funding would be dire for the racing industry. The commission should nix historical racing and end the drama.

This story was originally published August 11, 2015 at 4:02 PM with the headline "Racing Commission drama."