Lawmakers introduce bill to ban gaming money from politics

HARRISBURG, May 12 – Legislation that would ban members of the gaming industry from making political campaign contributions to Pennsylvania candidates has been introduced by state Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila.

Josephs introduced the bill (H.B. 1509) in response to a recent state Supreme Court ruling that threw out the portion of Pennsylvania's slot machine gaming law that banned political campaign contributions by gaming interests. The court based its decision on the presence of the word "large," referring to campaign contributions, in the preamble to the gaming law (Act 71 of 2004). The preamble summarizes why a law is being put in place. The law itself specifically banned 'all' political campaign contributions by gaming interests.

Josephs, who is chairwoman of the House State Government Committee, said her legislation would place the ban in Pennsylvania's Election Code, rather than amending the gaming law.

"The intent of the General Assembly five years ago remains the same today – that gambling kingpins should have no role or influence in politics," Josephs said. "Gambling falls within the police powers of the state to protect its citizens' health, welfare and safety. If the industry doesn't want to follow the rules, it can go to another venue."

Reps. Mike O'Brien, D-Phila., and Curt Schroder, R-Chester, who also back the bill, called on state lawmakers to support a self-imposed moratorium on accepting gaming contributions until legislation could be enacted to restore a state ban on them.

"The Supreme Court's decision to strike down the portion of the bill that specifically seeks to protect the public from potential corruption and pay-to-play politics in the casino gaming industry can only be described as a shame," O'Brien said. "This was the court's eighteenth straight ruling in favor of gaming interests, and the public continues to lose out. I will continue working with Representative Josephs and other lawmakers until this wrong is made right."

The ban on donating money or in-kind contribution to any candidate or campaign committee in Pennsylvania would apply to a number of gaming-related interests, including applicants for a slot machine license, manufacturer license, supplier license, principal license, key employee license, or horse or harness racing license, as well as those who hold licenses in the same, or out of the state. It also would apply to an affiliate, intermediary, subsidiary or holding company of a slot machine licensee, licensed manufacturer, licensed supplier or licensed racing entity.

The bill is expected to fall under the review of the State Government Committee, which reviews legislation on issues ranging from voting and elections to campaign finance reform.