Study: gaming industry gave 4.3 mil to pols

Topping the report’s list of those receiving campaign contributions is Governor Ed Rendell.

Casinos are controversial. Opponents say they’re predatory, but supporters say people come to spend money for fun and entertainment. A new study from the government watchdog group Common Cause shows the flow of some other dollars, more than four-million from the gaming industry to candidates and political committees in Pennsylvania from 2001 to 2008.

Listen:
[audio: 090623lfgaming.mp3]

Topping the report’s list of those receiving campaign contributions is Governor Ed Rendell, he received just over a million dollars. The Governor’s press secretary Chuck Ardo says he’s not surprised,

Ardo: The Governor ran on a platform that included something important to the people involved in this industry. As any other people involved in any other venture, they supported the candidate who was on their side on the issue.

Kelly Green is president of the League of Women Voters of Philadelphia.

Green: The Common Cause released report clearly shows how money is having an undue influence in politics and at the very least shows an appearance of an era of corruption.

State lawmakers, two Supreme Court Justices, and former Philadelphia Mayor John Street are also in the report’s list of the top 20 recipients.

Less than two months ago, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court tossed out a state ban on campaign contributions from the gambling industry, but yesterday, a state Senate committee approved a bill that would reinstate the ban.