Fumo predicts passage of gambling bill

[Freddie Stubbs]

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A key Democratic state senator said that he has dropped his demand that any legislation to expand legalized gambling in Pennsylvania include gambling licenses for Indian tribes.

Sen. Vince Fumo, D-Philadelphia, said he expects gambling to be passed by the June 30 budget deadline. The legislation is designed to raise $1 billion for lower property taxes by legalizing and taxing slot machines at horse race tracks.

Republicans in the Legislature had refused to agree to grant gambling licenses to Indian tribes, saying that they'd rather see the tribes try to prove a land claim in federal court.

But Democratic senators, following Fumo's lead, had insisted that it made sense to license a slots parlor to be run by a tribe with a potential Pennsylvania land claim as a way to ensure that any Indian-run gambling will be taxed by the state. Should the Indians prove successful in federal court, they could set up gambling operations that are tax-free.

more: http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/local/8702304.htm

[IronLionZion]

1. They should tax the hell out of it

especially Indian gambling.

I'm somewhat on the fence about gambling because we could use the tax revenues, but on the other hand it hurts poor people with gambling problems.

[Freddie Stubbs]

2. There is no Indian gambling in PA

There are no recognized tribes in the state, and there probably won't be anytime soon. If the state reconized a tribe, that tribe would be able to start a casino. The revenue from that casino would not be eligible to state taxes.