House State Affairs Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, introduced legislation this morning to tap into state lottery proceeds for $500,000 a year to boost live horse racing in the state. The move comes as his committee is scheduled to hear SB 1011 on Wednesday morning, the bill to eliminate “instant racing,” in the form of slot machine-like terminals that have been installed at three locations in Idaho in part to boost the horse racing industry, with most of them at Les Bois Park near Boise, with others at the Greyhound Park in Post Falls and the Double Down Betting Bar in Idaho Falls. SB 1011 passed the Senate 25-9 on May 17.

Loertscher's new bill adjusts the amount of state lottery proceeds that go into prizes to give the state a slightly higher share, then directs $500,000 of that each year to the state Racing Commission “for live Idaho horse race meet purse enhancement.” It also includes a clause saying if lottery proceeds for Idaho schools and the state permanent building fund – the main recipients of lottery funds now – fall short of the 2014 mark, the share for horse racing would drop that year to $250,000.

After some questions, the State Affairs Committee agreed to introduce its chairman’s bill, the AP reports, but Rep. Pete Nielsen, R-Mountain Home, voted no.