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December 17, 2009, 3:15 pm
Governor Rendell advised this afternoon that if table games legislation is not signed into law by January 8th, he will be forced to order the layoff of upwards of 1,000 state workers to help make up the resulting $250 million revenue shortfall. The table games bill, SB 711, which was referred to the House Rules Committee today and will not be taken up again till January 5th, has stalled in large part due to disagreements over Category 3 resort licenses.
The governor said that despite a lack of table games at this point, he will sign a package of non-preferred legislation he had previously said he would withhold. He said he will do so to comply with a maintenance of effort requirement on the part of the four state-related universities. All other non-preferreds will receive a line-item vetoed 50 percent cut in funding, with the exception of the UPenn Veterinary School which will only receive a 12.8 percent cut. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
December 16, 2009, 1:28 pm
The committee reported as amended SB 711 providing for table games and gaming reform with six negative votes (Alloway, Corman, McIlhinney, Piccola, Robbins and Yaw). An omnibus amendment from Senator Pileggi was adopted with the same six senators voting “No”. An amendment to the Pileggi amendment offered by Senator Mellow to add a third Class 3 license was defeated by a voice vote. An amendment by Senator Alloway prohibiting a license being issued at a location within 12 linear miles of a national military park was also defeated by a voice vote. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the complete story.
November 18, 2009, 1:08 pm
Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Governor Rendell announced the release of the state’s first Autism Census Project Final Report, which reveals the number of autism cases in Pennsylvania is expected to rise among both children and adults for the foreseeable future. By 2010, the Governor stated, it is expected that roughly 25,000 Pennsylvanians will be living with autism. DPW Secretary Estelle Richman and members of the legislature’s Autism Caucus, including longtime autism advocate Dennis O’Brien (R-Philadelphia) were also on hand for the report’s release.
Following the announcement, Governor Rendell commented on a number of other issues, including the need for campaign finance reform and reapportionment, merit selection for judges, the possibility of a constitutional convention, as well as nuclear energy, table games, and a grand jury investigation into the awarding of certain slots licenses in 2006. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
August 6, 2009, 10:45 am
The commission voted to approved the following regulations:
No. 2661 Municipal Police Officers’ Education & Training Commission #17-75: Retired Law Enforcement Officers Identification & Qualification Cards
No. 2732 Environmental Hearing Board #106-9: Practice and Procedure
No. 2717 Environmental Quality Board #7-404: Bluff Recession and Setback
The deemed approved regs included:
No. 2725 Public Utility Commission #57-262: Household Goods in Use Carrier
No. 2719 State Board of Pharmacy #16A-5422: Fees.
Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
July 8, 2009, 10:31 am
The House Agriculture Committee considered two bills. HB 1330 was reported as committed, and transfers responsibility of parking meters to local governments. HB 1742 was reported as amended, and generated conversation on the funding of fairs, and whether moving restricted money from gaming revenues to fund the fairs for an interim period is appropriate. The bill was voted out of committee with Representatives Haluska, Josephs, and Mirabito voting in the negative.Â
Chairman Hanna also briefly discussed the impact that a lack of federal funding will have on agricultural programs at Penn State University, and urged the committee members to speak with their committee chairmen on the need to fund agriculture in Pennsylvania.
Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the complete story.
June 24, 2009, 10:13 am
The House Gaming Oversight Committee met this morning to receive a presentation from The Innovation Group on the impact table games would have on the state economy. Innovation Group CEO Steve Rittvo told the committee table games would allow the state’s gaming industry “to realize its full potential,” creating more than 16,000 jobs overall and $1 billion in total economic output. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story, and ongoing coverage of gaming in Pennsylvania. Following the hearing, Rep. Bill DeWeese (D-Greene), prime sponsor of the measure in the House (HB 21) commented, “If we get money into surrounding communities and programs for people who have gambling problems, we could recognize a great deal of revenue with this proposal.”
May 21, 2009, 3:33 pm
House Gaming Oversight held the last of its four hearings on HB 1317, the video poker bill, today. Testimony in support and against the measure was offered to the committee by the State Police, state-related and independent colleges and universities, the departments of education and revenue, representatives of the gaming industry and advocates against gambling. Check the Capitol Toolbox later in the day for the full story.
April 23, 2009, 3:19 pm
The House Gaming Oversight Committee held the first of four extensive meetings on HB 1317, the tuition relief/video poker bill, today. The committee heard from the Department of Education, representatives of Pennsylvania’s community colleges and system of higher education, the council on compulsive gambling, PGCB’s gaming lab, the Department of Revenue and Louisiana’s own gaming industry. Despite the packed agenda, there was still time for a 15 minute lunch break. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
April 21, 2009, 4:08 pm
HB 1317, sponsored by Rep. Dante Santoni, was introduced today and referred to the House Gaming Oversight Committee. PLS subscribers can log onto to the Capitol Toolbox to check out the draft text as well as the PLS summary of the bill.
April 20, 2009, 11:11 am
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control board answered questions this morning from members of the Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee, on topics ranging from its 6.4% budget increase request to the status of the two Philadelphia casinos, which have yet to break ground. The committee also reported two bills to the floor – SB 200 and SB 655. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
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