Rendell proposes tuition relief from video poker machines
Thursday, February 5th, 2009
By: Elizabeth Fiedler
efiedler@whyy.org
email hidden; JavaScript is requiredIn Governor Rendell's budget address he said he wants to fund tuition relief by legalizing and taxing video poker machines. The Governor says he wants to draw some financial benefit from the machines that are already illegally operating in bars and other businesses across the state. The plans have some gaming experts and activists crying foul. WHYY's Elizabeth Fiedler reports.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Recently Governor Rendell pitched his video poker machines to many of the Classrooms of the Future Schools in Pennsylvania with a simulcast to those who were invited. Pennsylvania has never permitted gambling in bars, restaurants, or taverns and was strictly regulated and violators were punished under the RICO law. Non profit clubs have always been able to implement small games of chance and were immune to prosecution. In his first term, the governor has been able to implement casino gambling across the state with some funds generated used to reduce property taxes. The move has been successful although it is still very early to make long term assessments. The divisions with reducing gambling restrictions will always exist. The argument that it promotes a potentially dangerous situation for certain individuals and families is well founded. However, many people are responsible and have enjoyed their trips to the new venues and many have been rewarded with some economic gains. Will the use of the new revenue really offset the rising cost of higher education? Time will tell if the video poker machines are permitted to be placed. Governor Rendell revealed his political motivation by addressing the link between the rising costs of college and placing video poker machines to a captured crowd. He made sure when he spoke to the schools who were linked through CFF, that the students were seniors who were at or near voting age, and that they provoke debate and lobby to their friends and family to support the program. My problem with the issue is not with the machines, who it effects, or even Governor Rendell’s political maneuver, but with the universities who have their hand out for stimulus money, raising tuition as much as eight or 10 percent. Many universities are as fiscally out of control as the Wall Street firms in the news. Soon only the very poor, or the very wealthy will be able to attend a university, and the very poor will struggle to find their way in due to other issues. Governor Rendell should make the funds generated by his plan but only to those who apply to universities that keep their tuitions in line with current economic standards.