Pennsylvania Slots Legislation Delayed Once Again

The Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate returned to a brief session July 28 but didn't consider racetrack slots legislation. It previously had buried a bill passed by the House, and it had predicted it would be after Labor Day before it considers the topic again.

Senate Majority Leader David Brightbill, a Lebanon County Republican who strongly opposes expanded gambling, said the bill is dead for the immediate future. He told the Associated Press the proposal, which the House approved July 19, "is not going to see any more legislative action" in the current session.

Brightbill said legislators who support expanded gambling could, at some point, start from scratch with a new bill. But that won't happen until after the House and Senate return in September after an August recess, unless some type of deal is struck in negotiations with Gov. Ed Rendell, who is eager to bring the two sides together and sign a slots bill into law.