Poker proposal may not pass in House

Governor Rendell’s video poker proposal still hasn’t come up for a committee vote. Now a top House Democrat says he’s skeptical the measure will be passed.

Governor Rendell’s video poker proposal still hasn’t come up for a committee vote. Now a top House Democrat says he’s skeptical the measure will be passed.

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Democrats on the House Gaming Oversight Committee have said they’re hoping for a full House vote on a measure to legalize video poker in bars and taverns by the end of June.

But when asked what had a better chance of passing-video poker or a bill legalizing table games in Pennsylvania’s casinos, House Speaker Keith McCall said the table games measure is a more realistic possibility.

The Carbon County Democrat says he doesn’t like the fact video poker revenue would be used for tuition breaks in State System of Higher Education colleges, but not state-related schools like Penn State or Pitt.

McCall: Don’t forget the fact that our colleges and universities are some of our top employers, as well. And if we start moving students from college A and B to college C, it could have a dramatic impact on those independents, and I have a concern about that.

In recent weeks, several lawmakers have begun floating the idea of legalizing table games and using tax revenue to help fill Pennsylvania’s budget gap.