As Released by the House Democratic Caucus:

In response to Gov. Tom Corbett’s announcement that he is extending for the eleventh time the bid to privatize management of the Pennsylvania Lottery, two House Democratic Caucus leaders once again called on the governor to abandon his pursuit to outsource the lottery to Camelot Global Services, of the United Kingdom, and stop wasting money intended to benefit older Pennsylvanians.

“It’s beyond time for the Corbett administration to abandon its plans to hand over management of our highly successful lottery to a foreign company,” said Democratic Leader Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny. “This spectacle has gone on for far too long, and it is costing our seniors who benefit from lottery-funded programs millions of dollars.”

“Polls show the majority of Pennsylvanians are opposed to outsourcing management of our lottery to a foreign company and the attorney general has already deemed the contract to be unconstitutional, so why is Governor Corbett still pursuing this ill-conceived idea?” asked Appropriations Committee Democratic Chairman Joe Markosek, D-Allegheny/Westmoreland.

“Now, the commonwealth is on the hook to pay more than $4.4 million in fees to the consultants hired by the administration to pursue this deal, and every time the governor extends the bid deadline, the fees continue to climb,” Markosek said.

“Every dollar paid to a consultant is a dollar taken away from critical senior programs that provide low-cost prescription drugs, free and low-cost transit rides, and property tax/rent rebates,” he said.

The governor’s announcement said that Corbett made the decision “after consultation with several legislative leaders.” House Democrats were not consulted, Dermody said.

Photo/Natalie Cake