Changes to Pa. Lottery unlikely until 2014
Chances are slim that lawmakers could pass legislation to expand the lottery and pave the way for its privatization before the holiday break, according to the leader of Pennsylvania’s Senate Republicans.
The plan, hatched in part to generate revenue ahead of a tough budget year and in part to enact a property tax freeze for seniors, still lacks consensus among GOP lawmakers, said Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi.
The measure deals with two issues.
“One is the authority of the governor to engage a private firm to do management and marketing functions at the lottery and the other is the authority of the lottery to conduct keno-style games,” said Pileggi, R-Delaware.
The argument for passing the legislation as early as possible is to get a head start on generating greater revenue for the commonwealth, said a Senate aide.
Earlier this year, the Corbett administration executed a contract to expand the Pennsylvania Lottery and outsource its management to a British firm.
The state attorney general rejected the contract and called it unconstitutional.
The company’s bid is now set to expire at the end of the year.
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