Farnese Encouraged by Proposed Budget Agreement
Concerned budget could send table games inclusion into gaming reform legislation

September 11, 2009 — State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Phila.) is encouraged by Senate and House leadership's announcement Friday that the legislature has reached a $27.9 billion budget agreement which preserves vital services and does not include a broad-based increase in taxes. 

“While this balanced proposal reflects the grim reality of economic hardship, it does not rely on personal or sales tax increases,” said Senator Farnese.

He was also pleased to see that onerous cuts Senate Republicans had earlier made to education and other programs were off the table.

Some of the provisions in the agreement include:

• A $300 million increase in basic education funding
• Approximately $180 million in revenues from a $.25 per pack cigarette tax
• $200 million in revenues generated by adding table games at existing casinos

Farnese expressed concern that authorization for table games could come in the form of an amendment to Senate Bill 711, a bipartisan gaming reform measure that passed the Senate in July but has stalled in the House. 

“Senate Bill 711 is intended to reform gaming, not expand an already broken system," he explained. 

The senator noted that there were already two stand-alone bills in the legislature seeking to approve table games, House Bill 21 and Senate Bill 1033.

"If we are going to consider the issue, then we should do so independently from gaming reform in a separate bill altogether," said Farnese.

He added he plans to review the budget proposal to ensure spending requirements for essential programs are met.

“I am continuing to carefully examine the details of the proposed budget,” said Sen. Farnese. “The announcement today of a potential agreement is a positive step in finally getting our job done. I am hopeful that I will be able to support this proposal and put an end to this lengthy budget impasse.”

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