FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2006
Back to News

Senators Rafferty and Orie Join with Others to Testify on Gaming Reform

(HARRISBURG) –   For several months, a number of members from the Senate Republican Caucus have been working together to develop a gambling reform agenda.  Yesterday, they advocated aggressive reform at the conclusion of the Senate Rules Committee hearing.  The Senate Rules Committee focused its hearing on Senate Bill 862 and some commonly accepted reforms which have been discussed recently by the Governor and legislative leaders.

Senator John C. Rafferty, Jr. (R-44), testifying yesterday in front of the Senate Rules Committee, called on the need for increased supervision over the Pennsylvania Gaming Board and Pennsylvania State Police oversight.

"I think our Pennsylvania State Police, our premier law enforcement agency, should be involved thoroughly and entirely in this process.  They should be doing the background investigations on all the licensees," Rafferty said.

Rafferty, a staunch opponent of gaming and an original advocate of gaming reform, touched on  the need for the Pennsylvania State Police to become involved in background checks and cited his current legislation, Senate Bill 1317, as a mechanism to insure the Pennsylvania State Police would have full statutory authority to conduct criminal checks on all prospective Gaming Board employees.  He also testified as to a measure contained in another piece of legislation he has introduced.  Senate Bill 1316 contains a provision which would make it mandatory for Gaming Board to conduct public hearings in a host municipality on a prospective gaming facility before a license is granted.  Both Senate Bill 1316 and Senate Bill 1317 are part of a larger gaming reform package introduced by the Senate Republicans. The 21 bill package is designed to:  repair loopholes and oversight in the law; enhance the accountability of the Gaming Control Board and improve the administration of the law; and improve oversight by the Attorney General and the General Assembly over the conduct of gaming in Pennsylvania.

"Today's hearing was a good starting point for discussion.  However, we must do more to ensure the accountability and integrity of gaming regulation in Pennsylvania.  With the conditional licenses expected to be issued soon, it is imperative that it all be done now," Rafferty said.

Efforts to reform the gambling law extend back over 1½ years when Governor Rendell vetoed legislation that would have made a number of reforms to the law including revisions pertaining to slot machine suppliers and granting power to the Attorney General to prosecute gambling-related crime.

CONTACT:

Sean Moll
(717) 783-0192