August 19-25, 2004

political notebook

by Mary F. Patel

Pit Bosses

One thing that the two candidates for attorney general agree on is that the office should have some amount of control over the state's expanded gaming. Republican Tom Corbett and Democrat Jim Eisenhower, who face each other in the November general election, both say they want to have a hand in regulating the industry.

Last July, House and Senate passed a bill allowing for the opening of 14 new slot-machine casinos across the state. Gov. Ed Rendell, a longtime gambling booster, signed the bill into law.

Revenue generated by the slots will be used to lower the wage tax and finance expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, while also lowering real estate taxes in the rest of the state. But with gambling traditionally fueling crime, the open-ended question of who will oversee the huge pots of money remains a pressing issue. The legislation calls for the formation of a seven-member Gaming Control Board, which will take the lead.

Some House members, including Republican Majority Leader Sam Smith from Punxsutawney, say that as the state's highest law-enforcement entity, the Attorney General's Office shouldn't be left out — particularly because it has powers under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Another concern of Smith and some fellow Republicans is a provision in the new law that allows elected officials to own as much as 1 percent of a casino or 1 percent of a casino company's stock.

Since they've yet to address that concern, state representatives say they plan to get right on it when they return for their fall session.

In a letter to Smith, Corbett wrote, "I recognize the belief that the expansion of gaming will help to ease property taxes at a critical time when the burden is forcing Pennsylvanians, especially senior citizens, out of their homes and discouraging new home ownership. However, in order to uphold the public trust and maintain the integrity of this new venture, it will be necessary to install reasonable oversight through participation of the state Attorney General."

Corbett also has voiced opposition to allowing state officials to cash in through casino ownership.

"Certainly this is a cause for concern," says his campaign manager, Brian Nutt. Nutt's peer in the Eisenhower camp, Nicholas Pullen, agrees. He also notes that the Attorney General's Office should play an active role in gaming oversight.

"Jim would ask for a special unit within the office that would consist of special prosecutors who have the guidance and expertise with gaming," Pullen says. "But the big question is, where was the [current] attorney general while the legislature was in the drafting process? Why wasn't he there to pass comment on oversight issues?"

Minding the Store

Republican Jerry Pappert is currentl y the state's highest law-enforcement officer. He was the chief of staff to former Attorney General Mike Fisher, who was appointed last year by President George Bush to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Pappert, who is not running in this election, will serve until the new attorney general is sworn in next January.

Pappert's spokesman Sean Connolly says the attorney general and his legislative staff were involved during the gaming-regulation legislative sessions. While they aimed to ensure that the office had a role in the process, he says the attorney general did not get oversight powers when all was said and done. The issue, he adds, was somehow left off the table during an intense negotiation period.

"Jerry is not happy about it," says Connolly, "and he is now working with the House and Senate to amend the law."

Nutt says he thought Eisenhower was trying to divert attention away from the issues.

While the sparks have yet to fly between Corbett and Eisenhower, expect some action as the summer ends and voters are no longer distracted by the presidential candidates and the nominating conventions.

Despite the quiet campaign season, both Corbett and Eisenhower had primary fights. Corbett's was a contentious battle against Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor. Now attending functions statewide in an effort to spread his message, Corbett was recently endorsed by the State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police and the Pennsylvania chief of police.

Eisenhower beat David Barish, Lawrence County District Attorney Matthew Mangino and Northampton District Attorney John Morganelli in the Democratic primary.

Pullen says all Eisenhower's primary opponents have backed the candidate, unlike Castor.

Eisenhower is busy raising money, and former Vice President Al Gore is expected to make a campaign stop for him Sept. 9.