12/08/2005 - Gambling Repeal Testimony & Action Alert

From: Elizabeth Milner, LWVPA President, lwvpa@epix.net
and Kay McKenna, LWVPA Gambling Specialist, kayomck@aol.com

Please lobby your state Representatives to make sure this Bill to repeal Act 71, HB 2298, gets voted on. It will be up to majority leader, John Perzel to schedule it for a vote, however, it makes a difference if House members say they are getting e-mail on this bill. Remember Act 71 has no sunset provision. ( http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/session.cfm)

Dec. 7, 2005
The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania
Statement for the Repeal of Act 71 Press Conference

The League of women Voters of Pennsylvania joins the sponsors of this proposal (HB 2298) to repeal Act 71 for three important reasons: first, the League believes that the process by which the law was passed seriously violated the original purpose and single subject provisions in Article III of our State Constitution; second, Act 71 provides several opportunities for corruption beyond the one provision our State Supreme Court struck down, which allowed the gaming board to overrule local zoning authorities in the site selection of casinos; and third, the League believes that it is harmful to Pennsylvania citizens to expand gambling beyond lottery and four race tracks that existed before1984.

We do not want the State to become heavily reliant on gambling proceeds for revenue. Pennsylvania should have an adequate and fair tax system and not encourage its citizens to lose their money to gambling entrepreneurs. The one billion dollars a year that is being sought from gambling is just one billion dollars lost by people most of whom will be our State’s residents. Act 71 will not lead to real economic development.

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