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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Dante Santoni |
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Santoni will lead Gaming Oversight Committee in new session
HARRISBURG, Jan. 6 – State Rep. Dante Santoni, D-Berks, today was sworn in to his ninth term as state representative and has been named chairman of the House Gaming Oversight Committee for the 2009-10 legislative session.
The 193rd session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly convened at noon today.
The Gaming Oversight Committee is responsible for overseeing Pennsylvania's gaming industry, including the dealings of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The committee was established in 2007, shortly after the first slot machine gaming facility began operating in the state. The legislature authorized 14 slot gaming facilities for the state, seven of which are now open.
"Slot gaming is still a fledgling industry in Pennsylvania," Santoni said. "And it's important to keep an eye on what is working and what is not working on behalf of taxpayers when it comes to property tax relief, regional and state economic development, tourism and public safety. I voted to bring slot machine gaming to Pennsylvania, and I am honored to have been selected to lead the committee in its charge."
According to Santoni, Pennsylvania’s first slots casino opened at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in November 2006. The six others now open include Philadelphia Park Casino, Harrah's Chester Downs, Presque Isle Downs, Meadows Racetrack & Casino and Hollywood Casino at Penn National. The facilities have so far generated nearly $1.9 billion for homeowner property tax relief, to fund economic development projects and to revitalize the state's horse racing industry.
In addition to overseeing the slot machine gaming industry, the committee deals with legislation amending the state's Bingo Law and Local Option Small Games of Chance Act.
In the 2007-08 session, the committee approved Santoni's legislation (H.B. 706) to give local nonprofit organizations the chance to improve their operations by allowing more people to help run and work public bingo games. It also considered measures to increase prize limits and allow winner-take-all bingo. Those measures were not acted on in the Senate.
"Volunteer fire departments, veterans' organizations and other social clubs are important to local communities for their charity and public safety work," Santoni said. "The addition of slot machine gaming to some extent put these organizations at a disadvantage in competing for residents' discretionary entertainment dollars. It is important for the state to take an active role in making sure our volunteer organizations have the tools they need to better serve residents."
House Speaker Keith McCall, D-Carbon, named Santoni to the post. Representatives gain chairman assignments as they gain seniority in the legislature. The Gaming Oversight Committee assignment is Santoni's first chairman post in his 16-year tenure as state representative.
Santoni previously served as subcommittee chairman on Transportation Safety for the House Transportation Committee. He has also served on the House Appropriations, Finance, Liquor Control, and Tourism and Recreational Development committees.
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CONTACT: Barbara Grill |