Harrisburg doubles down

IN PASSING the table-games legislation that will allow poker, craps and roulette in the state's slots parlors, the Legislature has again confirmed that as far as it's concerned, we cities, counties, and communities of the commonwealth are mere colonies that toil to serve the Great Empire of Harrisburg.

At least that's what it feels like in reviewing some of the key points of the legislation.

_ It overrides the city's smoking ban.

_ By granting a new 2012 deadline for the

Foxwoods casino to open in the city, it overrides the state Gaming Control Board's own deadline of 2011. The board has been pushing Foxwoods to get its site open; now it has the authority to give the casino even more time.

_ Although it gives the city of Philadelphia control over the local share taxes on table games - estimated at $3.6 million a year - other muncipalities aren't so lucky. In some counties, like Chester and Delaware, projects and institutions favored by lawmakers will get that local share in perpetuity. That means that the greater good is trumped by pork, and local governments lose their say in allocating the money.

_ By allowing casinos to grant credit to slots customers, the Legislature overrides concerns by many advocates that a new form of predatory lending and fiscal misery is now sanctioned.

There is nothing inherently evil about the table games in question. But the way this development has unfolded stinks. Table games moved from an idea that might happen when the true impact of slots parlors could be measured into a do-or-die way to save state jobs and harmful cuts to education. It became the most expedient, rather than the wisest, way to resolve the state budget. And do we need to mention the paucity of public input?

Rep. Mike O'Brien fought for the local Philadelphia share to directly benefit the neighborhoods closest to the casinos. Fortunately, that move failed. Not that we don't think those communities deserve special consideration. O'Brien himself acknowledged that only 13 counties will have casinos. "For the other 54 counties, it's a nonissue," he said. In other words, the entire state benefits from the 13 counties forced to host casinos.

So why isn't anyone talking about taxing those 54 counties directly to help the affected communities?

That's not the way this Empire likes to play. *