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Josephs supports call for Decker ethics investigation

HARRISBURG, Aug. 22 – State Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., released the attached remarks today expressing her support for a complaint filed by Casino Free Philadelphia and the good-government group Hallwatch requesting a formal ethics investigation of former Gaming Control Board chairman Tad Decker.

The remarks were delivered by Josephs' Chief of Staff Jeanette Blize at event held this morning by Casino Free Philadelphia and Hallwatch. Josephs has been a supporter of allowing local citizens to participate in the process of deciding where casinos are sited in Philadelphia, and of allowing residents to file ethics complaints when they believe public officials have a conflict of interest or have acted inappropriately.

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Rep. Babette Josephs

Casino Free Philadelphia news conference remarks

Delivered by Jeanette Blize

Aug. 22, 2007

GOOD MORNING, AND ON BEHALF OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE BABETTE JOSEPHS, THANK YOU ALL FOR LENDING YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS EFFORT TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE INTEGRITY OF OUR PUBLIC PROCESS.

REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHS SENDS HER APOLOGIES FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO ATTEND TODAY'S EVENT, BUT SHE WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT SHE STANDS WITH YOU IN DEMANDING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ACTIONS OF FORMER GAMING CONTROL BOARD CHAIRMAN TAD DECKER OVER HIS HANDLING OF THE SUGAR HOUSE CASINO LICENSING AND THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST THAT HAVE COME TO LIGHT DURING THE ENTIRE CASINO LICENSING PROCESS.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHS SUPPORTS YOUR RIGHT TO DECIDE WHERE CASINOS ARE PLACED – ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY IMPACT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHS BELIEVES VERY STRONGLY THAT CITIZENS HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEMAND ETHICS CHALLENGES, NOT JUST IN THE CASE OF CASINOS, BUT WHENEVER THEY FEEL A PUBLIC OFFICIAL HAS DISREGARDED HIS OR HER RESPONSIBILITY TO THEM. WHEN SOMETHING SMELLS IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR, YOU DON'T JUST SHUT THE DOOR. YOU DIG THROUGH EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY UNTIL YOU FIND THE ROTTING FOOD AND TOSS IT OUT.

CLEARLY, YOU THINK SOMETHING STINKS HERE, AND ALL YOU ARE ASKING IS FOR THE RIGHT TO DIG THROUGH EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY OF THIS CASINO DEAL TO MAKE SURE NOTHING ROTTEN IS GOING ON.

REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHS COMPLIMENTS YOU FOR BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MAKE UP PHILADELPHIA – AND FOR BEING RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. AND SHE WILL WORK WITH YOU TO ENSURE THINGS ARE SQUEAKY CLEAN.

WHILE REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHS MAY NOT PHYSICALLY BE HERE TODAY, PLEASE KNOW THAT SHE IS STANDING WITH YOU. AND PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL ON HER, OR MYSELF, FOR ANY ASSISTANCE IN MOVING THIS ETHICS INVESTIGATION FORWARD.