The decision as to whether or not to call the Pennsylvania Legislature back into session or not has not been decided yet, but both sides of the issue are already grandstanding. Governor Ed Rendell and House and Senate leaders agree that the slot machine laws must be refined. However, no one can figure out who needs to refine the law. Republican Senator Jane Orie has been trying to get the House and Senate to come back early to session so that the slot machine law can be revisited. However, knowing that they will probably not be able to reach an agreement makes most leaders not want to come back.

The Democrats keep saying that Ms. Orie is just trying to put up roadblocks when trying to change the law. They claim that she is upset that one of the lobbyists listed his children as part owners of a proposed slot machine supply company. The issue has been resolved as the lobbyist removed his children from the slot machine company listing, yet Ms. Orie is still upset about it.

Ms. Orie feels that there are important changes that must be made to the slot machine law, including eliminating the middle-man slot machine suppliers. She feels, as do others, that it just adds to the confusion of the slot machine distribution business. She also wants it clear that children cannot own slot machines, that the state attorney’s office will oversee all slot machine operations, background checks need to be added in, and she wants to remove a provision that allows legislatures to own up to 1% of a gaming company. She feels it is a conflict of interest.

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