FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 22, 2007
Contact: Alex Charlton
(610) 831-8830
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Senator Rafferty Places Gaming Decision in Public's Hands

(HARRISBURG) – Senator John Rafferty (R-Montgomery), has proposed a new section to the Pennsylvania Gaming Code that will give residents of a given municipality greater control over whether slot machine facilities may be built in their municipality, through use of a ballot question.

The proposed amendment will require that a ballot question be placed on the ballot in the next municipal election. The gaming board will issue a license to the applicant only if a majority of the residents vote in support of the proposed facility. Should the public not vote in support of the facility, the board will not be permitted to award the facility a gaming license.

“It is critical to allow the local voters to decide whether or not they want a gaming facility located within their community.  Although the Gaming Board does take into consideration the impact a slots parlor may have on the community, it is in no way a guarantee that the Gaming Board will deny an application despite community opposition.  This legislation allows the voters to decide whether a gaming facility will be permitted to obtain a license to operate in that municipality. I believe the voters should have the last word in regards to these facilities,” Rafferty said.

Rafferty, who proposed the local hearing provision in the recently enacted amendment to the original gaming legislation, did not feel that simply conducting the one required public hearing in a municipality would assure that the Board would heed strong public opposition.   The current gaming law only allows the public to participate in one hearing in the host municipality, giving them no definitive control over the outcome of a proposed license; hence this bill is a natural progression in ensuring local control over development of their municipality.

Rafferty’s new proposal will allow voters greater oversight and control of their community and the future development of their municipality.