Quote:
Originally Posted by cmorioles
Of course it is a lie, but the money has been so wasted it will be tough to argue for keeping it. Anytime people point to the good things the money could have been used for, all the opponents have to say is "you've had X years" and blew it. I don't know the X, what is it, 5, 10?
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No it is not hard to argue for it at all. The facts are pretty clear, this was a business deal between the tracks, state and horsemen. The money is no more the states money than the money sitting in your twinspsires account would be. What they are doing is simply stealing money from private business. Are you ok with the gov't seizing revenue from private business to use to pander to local voters and further the political careers of the bills writers?
What you probably dont realize is that what they are proposing to fund is already provided for by Act 71. The state has already received billions for school funding and more importantly (because education is a nebulous area where no one really has any idea where the money goes) for property tax relief even in areas that have been served. This is simply a pandering for votes trick that will wipe out an entire industry while further enriching the tracks who are giant gambling corporations making 5 times as much money as the horsemen are. If you wanted additional funds from the gambling industry wouldnt you go after the tracks money being they have a whole lot more than the horsemen AND you'd more or less just be lowering corporate profits while barely affecting jobs and economic impact?
Of course the truth that no one wants to admit is that lobbyists from parx and Penn national are probably the ones who crafted the bill considering they have the most to gain from an elimination of racing.