This is embarrassing--PA slots parlors stay open while museums and other state services shut down...

[Lobster Martini]

Among the government services still operating: state police, prisons, healthcare for the poor...and slots parlors?

Wouldn't it be cool if state-run museums and historic sites were considered essential and slots parlors weren't?

Pa. gov. orders partial state shutdown

Gov. Ed Rendell late Sunday ordered a range of state government services shut down and placed about a third of the state work force on indefinite unpaid furlough after frantic last-minute negotiations failed to break a budget stalemate.

A judge, however, ordered that the state's five slots parlors remain open, at least temporarily.

<snip>

A partisan battle of wills between the Democratic governor and the Republicans who control the Senate has created a deadlock lasting eight days into the new fiscal year. With Rendell's order, 24,000 state workers not deemed critical to health and safety were furloughed without pay Monday.

<snip>

A Commonwealth Court judge, however, halted the closure of slots parlors at least until a Tuesday hearing, said Doug Harbach, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. State Revenue Department workers who monitor the casinos' computers were among those ordered furloughed.

Critical services — such as health care for the poor, state police patrols and prisons — will be maintained. About 52,000 state workers will remain on the job and be paid on time.

<snip>

(Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070709/ap_on_re_us/pennsylvania_shutdown&printer=1;_ylt=Ap4F1s_ozyLK_2SHUoIe2spH2ocA)

Incidentally, Washington's Crossing Historic Park is among the historic sites to be temporarily closed, as is the Brandywine Battlefield Historic Site in Chadds Ford.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Easy answer: Slots bring in revenue.

You won't persuade taxpayers to pay more taxes but you can persuade the same taxpayers to relinquish the same amount of money if they're gambling. Not to mention contributions from out-of-staters.

[Lobster Martini]

2. Yep. Just wish it weren't so obvious. (n/t)

[Eurobabe]

3. Gee, ya think the CON legislators get subsidies from the coal

companies, and thus don't want to pass any budgets that might include alternative fuel options?

[luckyleftyme2]

4. PA IS NOT ALONE

YOU WILL FIND that country wide the republican party is concentrating their efforts to stall and obstruct all state governments. The democrats need to expose these efforts and let the public know who the leaders are and what their real agenda is.
also find out if outside money is paying for mis- information commercials!
much of this seems to be coming via talk radio. I wonder if this is kosher with fcc licensing?

[zbdent]

5. On local RW Clear Channel station, all they could talk about was that

the casinos were open while everything else was closed ... kept saying "When you hear 'essential personnel' in PA, that means casino workers!"

Not mentioning that all the emergency stuff was still on the job ... or the fact that the shutdown was because the Dem Governor (mentioned) was being stonewalled by the Repuke state House and Senate (unmentioned) ...