From Inquirer Harrisburg reporter Angela Couloumbis:
Let it be known, for the record, that Sen. Vince Fumo has a single word to describe a proposal circulating in the Capitol to cut Philadelphia out of its share of casino revenue: asinine.
The Democrat from Philadelphia is taking aim at a proposal being pushed by Rep. Robert W. Godshall (R., Montgomery), who is fed up with the feuding in the city that has held up construction of its two waterfront casinos.
Godshall believes that if Philadelphia can’t get its act together and start contributing casino revenues, it shouldn’t be entitled to money from that pot. Under the state’s law legalizing slots parlors, every municipality will receive funds from casino revenues to help offset rising property taxes. (In Philadelphia’s case, the money would be used to lower the wage tax).
Through his spokesman, Gary Tuma, Fumo pointed out that there are only 14 standalone slots parlors approved in for Pennsylvania – and that under Godshall’s logic, only those municipalities hosting a casino should be eligible for casino revenue.
In that case, Tuma pointed out, “we were wondering whether residents in Rep. Godshall’s district shouldn’t be getting money either,” since Montgomery County isn’t playing host to any of the state’s 14 parlors.
“Of course,” Tuma added, “Senator Fumo would be happy to introduce legislation to transfer one of [Philadelphia’s] two licenses into his district.”
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