Yeah, that was lame. Whatever.
When I talked to local state representatives yesterday, Republicans were waiting to see if an amendment by state Rep. Ron Miller, R-Jacobus, was going to pass before deciding if they could support a bill that would legalize table games.
Miller's amendment would have required any revenue from the games to go toward property tax relief. And no, it didn't pass in the Democrat-dominated House.
I've attached the press release. Miller's got a point. The legalization of slots five years ago didn't exactly make the state's property tax problem disappear overnight.
HARRISBURG - Legislation authored by state Rep. Ron Miller (R-Springfield Township) that would have provided property tax relief from table games revenue was defeated by House Democrats in a party line vote. Miller was attempting to amend Senate Bill 711, which mandates gaming reform and introduces table games at the state's casinos.
"Pennsylvania homeowners have yet to realize the significant property tax relief they were assured would come with the introduction of slots five years ago," Miller said. "Defeat of this amendment is disappointing, as it would have moved us toward achieving the promise made by the Rendell administration in 2004."
The original legislation transferred 34 percent of the gross revenue generated by table games into the general fund. Miller's amendment would have made the Property Tax Relief Fund the beneficiary of those funds.
House Democrats also defeated a Miller amendment that would have used tax revenue from table games to prevent the balance in the State Lottery Fund from dropping below the level of the prior year.
"Statistics show the undeniable negative impact slots have had on the state Lottery, which provides valuable services to our senior citizens," added Miller. "Our seniors should not have to suffer because of an even further expansion of gaming."
Senate Bill 711 was amended, and must now be sent back to the Senate for concurrence.
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