Posted on Wed, Oct. 28, 2009
The issue of how much to tax table games proposed for Pennsylvania casinos remains unresolved, prompting one Bucks County lawmaker to accuse Gov. Rendell of holding money for state-related universities "hostage" to it.
State Rep. Paul Clymer (R., Bucks), a gambling critic who is minority chairman of the House Education Committee, said the governor was forcing the legislature to vote to legalize table games before it releases money available for higher education.
"That's wrong," he said yesterday. "It shouldn't be done this way."
In an e-mail sent to Rendell on Monday, Clymer said, "You have indicated to the press, no table games, no money for our universities. Really!"
"Holding hostage our state universities is plain irresponsible," Clymer wrote. " . . . Horse trading is part of the political process. I understand that. However, withholding funds to force votes to expand gambling is not only bad politics, but it is also a bad trade-off."
After Rendell signed the $27.8 billion budget on Oct. 9, lawmakers had yet to vote on a proposal to allow table games at slots parlors. Revenue from that is projected to reach $200 million this fiscal year, and that sum is needed to help balance the state budget.
The state also has allotted $730 million for universities, museums, and hospitals, but that money has been held up while lawmakers debate the table-games tax bills.
Legislative leaders and Rendell met briefly on Oct. 19 on table games.
Rendell spokesman Gary Tuma said the governor called for another session to be held yesterday, but it had to be postponed due to scheduling conflicts with some of the leaders.
"The meeting has not been rescheduled," Tuma said yesterday. "Discussions are going to continue at the staff level."
House Speaker Keith McCall (D., Carbon), who was among those invited to attend the meetings, said the tax rate on table games remained the chief sticking point. The House and Senate have pushed competing tax rates, ranging from 34 percent to 12 percent.
"The key point of contention is raising the needed revenue - not just for this year, but every year moving forward," McCall said. "To pass a bill that doesn't accomplish that would defeat the purpose."
Meanwhile, university officials are growing increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress. Penn State, Temple, the University of Pittsburgh, and Lincoln University are among those awaiting the money. Also affected are the Franklin Institute Science Museum and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
"We're still optimistically hopeful that it will be sooner rather than later," said Michael Hill, vice president of development and external relations at Lincoln, which is waiting on just under $14 million.
Hill said the school had put off some nonfaculty hiring and cut back on travel and other essentials.
Contact staff writer Suzette Parmley at 215-854-2594 or sparmley@phillynews.com.
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