Shady shenanigans shouldn't surprise
Editor: In issuing a scathing report against the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and its slimy practices after a painstaking two-year investigation, a state grand jury has delivered enormous rhetorical ammunition to those who were opposed to the initiation of casino gambling in the commonwealth.
The grand jury found sloppy practices and inexcusable occurrences including patronage, the arrests of some of the patronage hires, failure to properly scrutinize vendors and potential licensees, acquiescence to political pressure, failure to safeguard the public, and that casino tax revenue to be used for property tax relief has not achieved the promised levels.
The body did not issue any criminal indictments but urged significant changes in the law and in the means by which casinos and those associated with them are scrutinized and regulated.
Only in the twisted world of state government could the report be seen by anyone as good news and vindication, but Gaming Board chairman and Rendell appointee Gregory Fajt considers it a "spectacular success." Unbelievable.
Individuals should have the right to lose their money in gambling casinos and I supported legislation to allow casinos to operate, enabling us to keep gambling tax revenue in Pennsylvania.
I suppose all of us should have known, though, that placed in the hands of a new, expensive state bureaucracy, particularly one assembled under the slippery Ed Rendell, would place the fox in charge of the hen house and spawn calamity for those who believe in open, honest, citizen-friendly government.
I am still waiting for my property taxes to be slashed by the 30 percent Mr. Rendell promised.
The credo of today's brand of elected official is: "Promise them anything, get elected, get re-elected, break your promise, and pledge to do better in the future. The electorate will lap it up."
OREN M. SPIEGLER
UPPER SAINT CLAIR,
ALLEGHENY COUNTY
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