HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – A deal to regulate and tax skill games in Pennsylvania fell through at the last minute after lawmakers thought they had a deal done to settle a years-long dispute.
Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D) said Thursday he was “extremely disappointed” as lawmakers head home late this week. Their departure from Harrisburg comes a week after a state Supreme Court deadline to legalize the machines passed, forcing businesses and nonprofits to abandon machines that gave a financial boost.
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The House Democratic Leader, Matt Bradford, insisted a skill games deal was agreed to by all parties this week, but said “dysfunctional, incoherent and incompetent” Senate Republicans inexplicably walked away.
“If you’re one of our social clubs who need these skill games for revenue, the Senate Republicans left town today, tail between their legs, with no idea how to proceed forward,” Bradford said. “There was a deal reached. This deal was done. The Senate ran off again because they could not get the votes.”
The deal is believed to have been one supported by Governor Josh Shapiro, which would’ve taxed the games at 52%, the same as casinos. State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who is running against Shapiro, proposed a $500 monthly fee per game.
In a statement, Senate Republican Leader Joe Pittman didn’t address skuttling a done deal this week, but said the Senate wanted skill games done during budget time.
“It is unfortunate Democrats abandoned those efforts over the summer when there was adequate time to come to agreement,” Pittman said.
Senate Republicans say they, too passed priorities that House Democrats ignored, including voter ID and fairness in women’s sports.
Lawmakers have also attempted to tackle several major issues, including a minimum wage hike, recreational marijuana, and mass transit funding. All of those will be reintroduced next year with a new class of lawmakers.
“These measures have sat dormant for many, many months, and we’re tired of it, quite frankly,” said Costa.
With no voting sessions left until after the election, Senate Democrats are now hopeful they can flip the chamber for the first time since the early 1990s.
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