Gov. Ed Rendell has received $147,688 since 2002 from members of the development family that owns Station Square, a potential casino site. Since the gambling law was passed, he also has returned $15,000 from a license candidate.
He and other politicians who have received contributions from potential applicants say the donations will have no impact on who gets the lucrative license, which will be awarded by a state board appointed by Rendell and top legislative leaders.
And those who have given say it was done with good government in mind, not the slots license. SOURCE
Sure it was.
The $15,000 returned was donated by 84 Lumber owner Joe Hardy individually and through his political action group. Hardy seeks a slots-resort license for his Nemacolin Woodlands resort.
Out going mayor of Pittsburgh Tom Murphy, when asked about the slot machine situation in the city, said bluntly "the fix is in." He was referring to a possible slot machine license for the city going to Forest City enterprises, a front group for Harrah's Casino group. Taking serious money from a potential slot machine operator who now has the inside track to build in Pittsburgh, while virtually sealing the fate of the Penguins hockey team doesn't sound very moral, Ed.
Using local Philadelphia taverns owned by youe friends as polling places on election day so that over 2,000 votes are already on certain machines before the polls open isn't exactly moral, Ed.
Using union thugs to assault political enemies, then having your wife preside over their court cases to ensure the outcome isn't exactly moral, Ed.
Jetting a battallion of lawyers to FLA iafter the 2000 election to disenfranchise and discount thousands of absentee ballots cast by our military members overseas, while championing voting rights for convicted felons isn't exactly moral, Ed.
In short, Ed, you have no morals to speak of and have no right whatsoever to question the morality of your political opponents. Every Pennsylvanioan with half a brain and a modicum of morality needs to vote you out of office and do whatever possible to ensure you never hold office again.
I'm not looking forward to slots. Good post. Thank you for the info, as I tend to not follow the local issues very closely.