Schroder Casts Lone ‘No’ Vote in Conference Committee
1/6/2010
No time to expand gambling while grand juries are investigating gambling

When a House-Senate conference committee met today to decide the fate of expanded gambling in Pennsylvania, Rep. Curt Schroder (R-Chester County), Republican chairman of the House Gaming Oversight Committee and a member of the conference committee, cast the lone vote against gaming expansion.

“The gambling legislation that was approved today was drafted while members were on holiday break and the Republican Caucus was given no time to review the conference report before today’s vote,” said Schroder. “Today’s action permits casinos even greater latitude to abuse the law and further weakens the state’s position with regard to law enforcement.

“The legislation does not protect the public from the abuses of the gaming industry. It permits casino operators to extend credit to individuals who have exhausted theirs. This predatory practice will greatly impact compulsive gamblers who already contribute a major share of a casino’s revenues.”

The bill does not put the Bureau of Investigative Enforcement (BIE) under a competent law enforcement body such as the Pennsylvania State Police or state attorney general. The independence of this unit has been severely called into question ever since it was reported that the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board made the investigative unit change a background report. The House Republican Caucus has advocated for the independence of the BIE. This change is supported by the governor, attorney general, auditor general, the District Attorneys Association, the law enforcement community statewide and numerous newspaper editorial boards across Pennsylvania.

“This legislation sets a horrible precedent in that it provides earmarks for pet projects that will be funded with table game revenue. Under the guise of “local impact,” certain legislators with casinos in their districts have directed that funding to go to certain projects, ranging from hospitals, schools, community colleges that do not yet exist, and who knows what else,” said Schroder. “This earmarking is a new and unwelcome development that is rife with problems, secrecy and inadequate scrutiny.
Further, table games will take business away from slots parlors whose proceeds are designated for property tax relief. The state’s share of table games revenue will go into the General Fund to pay for the ever-expanding cost of state government.”

According to Schroder, the most ominous problem is the fact that grand juries are currently investigating the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and the original issuance of gaming licenses.

“Why would we rush headlong into expanding table games when we know that corruption is being investigated? We should wait until the investigative process has run its course and not expand gambling while this cloud hangs over state government and the gambling industry,” Schroder said.

The conference committee was formed today after the House rejected Senate amendments to a gambling bill passed in the House last month. Gov. Ed Rendell is threatening to layoff as many as 1,000 state workers if a gaming bill is not on his desk by Jan. 8.

Rep. Curt Schroder
155th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(610) 524-5595
(717) 783-2520 
www.CurtSchroder.com
Contact: Donna M. Pinkham
(717) 260-6452
www.pahousegop.com