HARRISBURG —The state Supreme Court today ruled that an outright ban on political contribution by gaming interests was unconstitutional and struck down that key provision of Pennsylvania’s 2004 law legalizing slot machines.

The high court found in a case involving a Philadelphia developer that such a ban “clearly, palpably, and plainly” violated free-speech provisions.

The ban restricts “a constitutionally protected form of expression that is no less legitimate or important than other forms of expression,” Chief Justice Ronald Castille wrote on behalf of the court.

The legislature imposed the ban as a firewall against corruption creeping into the fledgling multi-billion dollar gaming industry in the state by preventing wealthy gaming interests from trying to influence politicians.

Considered the nation’s broadest such restrictions, it outlawed all political contributions from a long list of people involved in gaming in the state, from casino license applicants to slot machine makers and suppliers.

But developer Peter DePaul, a part owner of the Foxwoods Casino planned for Philadelphia successfully challenged the restriction, arguing it unfairly singled out one business sector.
 

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State Auditor General Jack Wagner this morning told reporters that the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board did not violate any state law when it awarded a controversial contract to the husband of an agency employee - but it did exercise "poor judgment."

Wagner was referring to the $173,000 that the Liquor Control Board (LCB) recently awarded to Solutions 21 of Pittsburgh, whose president is married to one of the agency's regional managers. The contract is to train store clerks and managers in the basics of customer service.

The Auditor General said his office's audit of the contract found that the board "should have anticipated the reasonable public questioning that would result over a potential conflict of interest, regardless of whether that conflict was an actual conflict or the appearance of a conflict."  

Wagner also said that given the tight economic times, it might have been more prudent for the LCB to delay spending money on employee training.

From the start, Liquor Control Board officials have defended the deal, saying Solutions 21 submitted "the lowest and best" offer among five firms that bid for the contract. They also have asserted that the contract complied with the state's Adverse Interest Act, and that the training is a necessary part of its mission to make its 619 stores more customer-friendly.

In a statement today, board chairman Patrick J. "P.J." Stapleton III said he was pleased the examination did not reveal any violations of state laws or codes, and said the agency agreed with the list of recommendations Wagner made to help it improve it contracting and procurement process.

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State Rep. Mark Cohen (D., Phila.) will introduce a bill today to legalize the medical use of marijuana in Pennsylvania.

"There is obviously no consensus on legalizing marijuana, but there is a widespread consensus on legalizing medical marijuana," Cohen said last month. "I think there is a solid scientific case and there is overwhelming popular support."

Cohen, who will make his announcement at a 10 a.m. press conference in Harrisburg, said his bill will be similar to one being considered by New Jersey's Assembly after passage by the state Senate.

The New Jersey measure would let registered patients suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis and other illnesses grow marijuana plants for medical use or buy the drug at a licensed center. Gov. Corzine said he'd sign the bill.

Cohen has said his bill will not only require prescriptions, but also set forth a plan for regulating distribution and sales.

This month, Michigan becomes the latest state to legalize medical marijuana. A dozen other states, including California also have done so.

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State Sen. Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi said the search is on for a moderate GOP candidate to run for U.S. Senator.

The search for such a person began “the moment Specter made his announcement,” said Pileggi (R., Delaware).

“It would have been better for all concerned if there was a way the Republican Party in Pennsylvania could have supported (Specter) as its candidate in the general election without the kind of divisive and expensive primary that evidently would have faced him,” he added.
 

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Pennsylvania activist Michael Morrill is heading into decidedly unfriendly skies tomorrow.

The former Green Party candidate for governor says he will fly to Cuba in defiance of the U.S. travel ban.

Morrill said he wants the Obama Administration to lift the "anachronistic" ban on travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens. “I challenge the Obama Administration to either arrest me, or to live up to its promise to end this failed policy of limiting contact between Cuba and the United States,” he said in a press release. “Prohibiting travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens is not only morally wrong, it is politically and economically counter-productive."

Morrill is supporting the passage of “The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act (HR 874, S 428)," which would repeal all travel restrictions against the rights of all Americans to travel to Cuba.

Morrill, who leaves from Harrisburg tomorrow morning and will fly through Cancun, Mexico, says he will blog about his trip at www.morrillmajority.org.

Travel without a “license” issued by the Treasury Department could mean penalties of up to ten years in a federal penitentiary and a fine of up to $250,000, Morrill says.

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The Rendell administration this morning confirmed that Mary DiGiacomo Colins, the chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, would be stepping down from the agency within the next six weeks.

Colins, 60, will be replaced by Gov. Rendell’s chief of staff, Greg Fajt, according to Chuck Ardo, the governor's press secrertary.

Ardo said it remained unclear why Colins, who has served on the board since it was created in 2004, was leaving.

“There is still work to be done and she intends to do that work,” said Ardo, who would not elaborate on that point.

However, Colins is awaiting an appointment as a senior judge within the state court system.

At a news conference this morning, Sen. Jane Orie (R., Allegheny) said she was disappointed by Rendell’s choice of Fajt.

“There is going to be a taint,” said Orie, a leading critic of the gaming board. There is that inference that he is an insider who can be controlled, and you just don’t want that on the board.”

Ardo, however, called Fajt a “perfect fit” for the job, noting his experience as a state representative from Pittsburgh and his years as state Revenue Secretary.

As for Orie’s criticism, Ardo said “Sen. Orie would be displeased if this administration appointed St. Paul to the gaming board.”

Fajt will be replaced as Rendell’s chief of staff by Steve Crawford, who has served as the governor’s secretary of legislative affairs since he took office.

Citing sources, The Inquirer reported the personnel moves in today’s editions.
 

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Earlier, Sen. Arlen Specter released a letter from William Parker, the founder of the Pennsyvlania chapter of the Club for Growth, in which the latter argued that conservative Pat Toomey could not win the general election. Toomey of course, was the CFG's champion in 2004 when he almost unseated Specter, and later became the president and CEO of the national organization.

"Arlen Specter will promote anyone who will mimic his talking points," Toomey spokesman Tim Kelly said in a statement. Referring to a recent Roll Call story, Kelly said that the decision of several former Specter supporters in the Pennsylvania congressional delegation proves "Specter has clearly overstayed his welcome with Pennsylvania voters."

Besides, the Toomey campaign said, having Specter there is like having a Democrat anyway.
 
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Alex Roarty's remarkable serialized interview with Pennsylvania Republican chairman Rob Gleason keeps on giving. In the latest installment, Pat Toomey is quoted as saying he didn't think being a U.S. Senator was a very appetizing job.

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Pat Toomey would have to "move to the middle" a bit but could win a general election, Pennsylvania GOP chairman Rob Gleason says in an interview with PoliticsPA's Alex  Roarty. This undercuts, at least slightly, Arlen Specter's argument that only he can hold his seat for the Republicans. I say slightly because Gleason does acknowledge that the state's overall electorate is centrist.

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