Recent Issues
Pennsylvania’s Gambling Addiction
Five years ago this month, Gov. Rendell signed into law the signature policy achievement of his tenure -- legalized slot machine gambling. Act 71 of 2004 allows for 61,000 slot machines in 14 casinos throughout Pennsylvania. The governor promised many benefits from gambling revenue, the most appealing of which was a predicted $1 billion in property tax relief.
Read More >A Solution to the Gambling License Giveaway
It's déjà vu all over again. As Governor Rendell continues lobbying the General Assembly to expand gambling, very little attention is paid to the potential giveaway of valuable slot machine licenses to a small group of wealthy and politically connected people. By failing to auction these limited gambling licenses to the highest responsible bidder, Pennsylvania taxpayers will lose upwards of $2 billion.
Read More >Pennsylvanias $2 Billion Corporate Giveaway
Executive Summary Current proposals under consideration in the Pennsylvania General Assembly would grant limited gambling licenses to horse racetracks across the Commonwealth in an attempt to bolster the struggling industry. These gambling monopolies would be extremely valuable to the license holders and could potentially be the single largest corporate welfare subsidy program in Pennsylvania’s history.
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Recent Blog Posts
Slots for Scholars?
Use of gambling revenue to fund colleges is both economically and morally questionable.
State System Error: Proposed Scholarship Program is a Bailout
Governor Wolf's scholarship plan is a disguised bailout for the financially distressed State System colleges.
Progress and Setbacks in the 2017-18 Budget
Pennsylvania’s four-month budget battle is just about over, thanks to an assortment of targeted tax hikes and fee increases along with borrowing and one-time transfers.