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For Immediate
Release
3/21/07
CONTACT:
Alex Charlton
(610) 831-8830
PA
Senate Republican Communications
(717) 787-6725
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.
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