New lottery article

[PRETZEL]

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/02/attorney_general_kathleen_kane_4.html#incart_m-rpt-2

The new money from the lottery would be very welcomed, but to hold it hostage is troubling.

[Curmudgeoness]

1. This is bullshit.

To say that Kane has only until Saturday to review this contract is beyond contempt. And that is beside the facts that this contract and the privatization is not necessary, or prudent.

I still say that if the lottery commission is allowed all the same leeways that Camelot will have, they can do better for the state. There would be new money if the state allowed online lottery and keno just like they would do if Camelot takes over. I am personally opposed to states supporting themselves with gambling, but that ship sailed a long time ago....so what is the difference?

And there is always the problem with "found money" disappearing with nothing left over for down the road.

[PRETZEL]

2. Unfortunately as much as I agree that this is both unnecessary

and imprudent, as far as I know the only issues that the AG can address are legality and form.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. That is true. But to put a deadline on this

in such a short period of time makes it hard to check legality or form properly.

Maybe Kane will take the full 30 days that she should have and the opportunity will pass without a further extension from Camelot. Or so I could wish....this would be the only thing, short of problems with the legality of it, that might save us.

[PRETZEL]

4. I though the 30 day is up on Saturday

that's why the big push.

However, I think (and correct me if I'm wrong) but if the AG has questions that need clarification on certain points regarding the contract, that triggers a new 30 day wait.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. I understood the article to say

that the contract is set to expire on Saturday, even though the AG should have 30 days.

See what you think:

Attorney General Kathleen Kane might technically have 30 more days to review the lottery management contract that Gov. Tom Corbett wants her to sign.

But state Department of Aging Secretary Brian Duke said waiting that long could cause the $50 million more that Corbett put into his 2013-14 budget to help senior citizens to disappear.

Camelot Global Services PA LLC's bid to take over the management of the Pennsylvania Lottery is set to expire on Saturday and no extension is being negotiated at this time.

The bid from United Kingdom-based Camelot Global Services PA LLC is set to expire on Saturday.

[PRETZEL]

6. From everything I know about this,

all 4 of those statements are true.

The additional 30 days would only come into play if the AG cannot make a legal determination on the validity of the contract. That's where the additional 30 days would come into play.

The timeline as I understand it was the original PMA would have expired on Dec. 31. Corbett then offered the contract to the AG around Jan. 15 or so. That's when the original 30 day period was set in motion.

This additional 30 day would only come into play by the AG.

[durablend]

7. She (Kane) turned it down!

The King will be furious!!!!

[PRETZEL]

8. And the response from the Administration

will be that seniors in PA are the ones who lose here.

Yeah, the 50M would be nice for the system, but there was no guarantee going forward that this funding will remain as part of the base allocation.

[durablend]

9. Definitely not...

Especially once Camelot, Corbett and ALEC get their pieces of it.

[PRETZEL]

10. The Morning Call gave three reason,

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-pa-lottery-contract-illegal-kane-20130214,0,205807.story

snip

Kane gave three reasons:

•The executive branch exceeded its authority under the Pennsylvania Constitution by unlawfully infringing on the General Assembly's power to make basic policy choices regarding the management and operation of the Lottery.

•The development of monitor-based or other electronic games such as KENO is not authorized by the State Lottery Act, and it usurps the authority of the General Assembly to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

•Allowing Camelot to be indemnified for "indirect expenses" as provided in the contract is an unconstitutional waiver of the constitution's sovereign immunity doctrine

snip

Of the three reasons, I've always felt that the second one held the most weight. Keno and Internet based games probably fall under the Gaming Commission, not the Lottery Commission.