Published: January 22, 2010 4:04 pm ET

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The president of the Kentucky senate, David Williams, lost his bid for a constitutional amendment on slots at tracks yesterday, garnering only 21 votes where 23 were required for passage.

The measure died on a straight party line vote, with 16 democrats opposing. Kentucky law calls for a three fifths majority in both house and senate on constitutional amendments.

Williams, who faces re-election this year, was accused by democratic senator Mike Reynolds of using the attempted vote purely for political purposes.

Reynolds was quoted in the Louisville Courier-Journal as saying the move had nothing to do with gambling, because Williams knew it had absolutely no chance of approval in the house.

(Harness Tracks of America)