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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
09/28/04
Contact: Erik Arneson
earneson@pasen.gov
(717) 787-5708
Senate GOP to Move Legislation Fixing Gambling Law Flaws; Rules Proposal Deemed Insufficient
Senate Majority Leader David J. Brightbill (R-Lebanon) and Senate Republican Policy Chairman Joe Conti (R-Bucks) today said that only legislation will remedy intense and justifiable public concerns over the recently approved slots law, particularly a provision allowing legislators to have an ownership interest in slots companies.
"It's clear to us that mere rules of a legislative chamber – no matter how well-intentioned – cannot prohibit a member of the General Assembly from engaging in any lawful business or profession, perhaps not even prohibit any lawful investment," Brightbill said. "There must be a law."
"We've certainly heard from the public about the one percent ownership issue, which we must address," Conti said. "Although initially it appeared a rules change might work, pursuing this correction through statute is the right way to go."
A measure introduced by Senator John Pippy (R-Allegheny) to eliminate the one percent ownership threshold -- which is actually a 100 percent threshold for slots suppliers and manufacturers -- will be scheduled for committee action tomorrow.
Brightbill said he expects the full Senate to consider the bill, Senate Bill 1209, next week. SB 1209 is co-sponsored by all 29 Republican senators and seven Democrats.
Brightbill said that while many situations can be properly addressed through legislative rules, the issue of slots ownership and other reforms needed in the gambling law cannot be. "We owe Pennsylvanians something that will work over the long run – a strong, clear-cut, enforceable law," he said.
Brightbill, a staunch gambling opponent, pointed out that this is not an effort to repeal Act 71, the law which authorized slot machines in Pennsylvania. "Since Ed Rendell is still governor, even if the General Assembly somehow voted to repeal Act 71, he would veto it," Brightbill said. "It would then take a two-thirds vote to override that veto – and no one thinks that is possible. Our focus should be on making the existing law as clean as possible.
"A rule can be approved quickly, but it does not truly begin to cover the full range of officials who should be brought under the prohibition, such as local officials and party officials," Brightbill added.
Senate Bill 1209 currently is in the Senate State Government Committee, chaired by Senator Charles Lemmond (R-Luzerne).
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