Pennsylvania Flushes $1.5B Down The Drain

According to Philly.com-- Slots players sent $1.5 billion to Pa.'s horse racing industry over the last six years. "... many of the recipients of the horse-race subsidy are out-of-state multimillionaires. Some are billionaires several times over."



This while (to name a few)...* Pennsylvania is spending less on students than it did in 2008.

* Pa. reduced funding for four straight years for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).

* Pa. cut funds (2009-2010) to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources by $60.6 million (67%).

* The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will be forced spend $500 million less on our highways in 2014 (The state House failed to enact a Senate-passed measure).
I could think of a couple of other ways the $1,500,000,000 could have been better spent. This could have been used to offset property taxes for individuals stuck on a low fixed incomes (disabled, retired). It could have gone towards paying down the money the state already borrowed. As of March 1, 2013 Pennsylvania owed $8.8b in outstanding debt from money already borrowed.

Just about anything would be better then picking the pockets of one segment of the gambling industry to help prop up the other. This would be like charging the beer drinkers 18% more and giving it away to wine and hard liquor producers. If Pennsylvania is going to pick someone's pocket shouldn't' it be used to help offset the costs of government?

SEE ALSO:
Pennsylvania racing industry fights — again — to retain full share of slots revenues