DOCSLIB.ORG

Sargent's Court Reporting Service, Inc. (814) 536-8908 2

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Sargent's Court Reporting Service, Inc. (814) 536-8908 2 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES GAMING OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE * * * * * * * * * * PUBLIC HEARING IN RE: HOUSE BILL 1317 * * * * * * * * * * BEFORE: DANTE SANTONI, JR., Chairman Bryan Barbin, Christopher Sainato, Michael Reese, Randy Vulakovich, Fiorindo J. Fabrizio, Members HEARING: Thursday, May 7, 2009 9:22 a.m. LOCATION: 2112 Commissioners Hall Westmoreland County Community College 145 Pavilion Lane Youngwood, PA 15697 WITNESSES: Stephen H. Stetler, Secretary, Kathleen M. Shaw, Ph.D., Deputy Secretary, Doctor Joe D. Forrester, President, Doctor Tony Atwater, President, Major John P. Lutz, Director, Amy Christie, Executive Director, Tom Scott, Owner, Sherman Smith, Owner, Steve Fritz, General Manager, John P. Milliron, Esquire, Stephen Drachler, Executive Director Reporter: Valerie B. Gregory Any reproduction of this transcript is prohibited without authorization by the certifying agency. Sargent's Court Reporting Service, Inc. (814) 536-8908 2 1 I N D E X 2 OPENING REMARKS 3 By Chairman 3 - 5 4 STATEMENT 5 By Mr. Harhai 5 - 7 6 DISCUSSION AMONG PARTIES 7 - 9 7 TESTIMONY 8 By Stephen J. Stetler 9 - 25 9 By Kathleen M. Shaw, Ph.D. 25 - 59 10 By Doctor Tony Atwater 61 – 69 11 By Doctor Joe D. Forrester 69 - 77 12 DISCUSSION AMONG PARTIES 77 - 89 13 TESTIMONY 14 By Major John P. Lutz 89 - 103 15 By Tom Scott 104 - 106 16 By Amy Christie 106 - 115 17 By John P. Milliron 115 - 120 18 By Sherman Smith 120 - 122 19 By John P. Milliron 122 - 123 20 By Steve Fritz 123 - 127 21 DISCUSSION AMONG PARTIES 127 - 147 22 TESTIMONY 23 By Stephen Drachler 147 - 158 24 CERTIFICATE 160 25 Sargent's Court Reporting Service, Inc. (814) 536-8908 3 1 P R O C E E D I N G S 2 ------------------------------------------------------ 3 DOCTOR OBARA: 4 Doctor, one that is very critical, 5 certainly to all students who attend the 14 community 6 colleges in the state as well as all the Pennsylvania 7 State University --- assisting universities. So this 8 legislation of course would provide tuition relief for 9 students attending those institutions. So we're very 10 pleased to be able to provide the venue for this 11 hearing and hope that you find all the accommodations 12 very satisfactory. Thank you and welcome to the 13 college. And I will bring this mic over here. 14 CHAIRMAN: 15 Thank you, Doctor Obara, we appreciate 16 your hospitality and we thank Westmoreland County 17 Community College for hosting today's hearing. And I 18 want to thank you all for coming. We're here today to 19 hear testimony on House Bill 1317, The Tuition Relief 20 Act. 21 This is the second of our four scheduled 22 hearings on this legislation. It is my intention as 23 Chairman to make sure that all perspectives on this 24 proposal have an audience and I believe we will hear a 25 broad range of opinions over the course of these four Sargent's Court Reporting Service, Inc. (814) 536-8908 4 1 hearings. We've already had one in Harrisburg; this 2 is number two as I've said. 3 Again, we're meeting here at Westmoreland 4 County Community College for several reasons. First, 5 it gives the people of Western Pennsylvania a chance 6 to be part of the discussion, to hear from you and to 7 also let you know that our committee cares about what 8 your opinions are. Second, community colleges like 9 this one will be significantly impacted if the Tuition 10 Relief Act becomes law. Initially, I just want to 11 mention that this college is located in the district 12 of one of our committee members, Representative Mike 13 Reese. And I know that there's a couple of other 14 committee members here from Westmoreland, 15 Representative Ted Harhai and Representative Tim 16 Krieger. 17 I'm going to ask Representative Ted 18 Harhai to make some brief remarks before announcing 19 the members and then get on with the hearing. 20 Representative Harhai, welcome. 21 REPRESENTATIVE HARHAI: 22 This is for a guy in the MBA. First, I'd 23 like to congratulate Doctor Obara on his recent 24 appointment or election as the president. He's a fine 25 man, had many dealings with him over many years and Sargent's Court Reporting Service, Inc. (814) 536-8908 5 1 just congratulations. Well deserved. 2 DOCTOR OBARA: 3 Thank you much. 4 REPRESENTATIVE HARHAI: 5 I'd like to thank all of you for being 6 here today and I have some prepared testimony that I 7 would like to present because I feel very strongly 8 about this issue, especially for our local people that 9 are involved with video gaming. 10 I want to thank you, Mr. Chairman, for 11 bringing the Committee to Westmoreland County along 12 with my colleagues, Representative Krieger and 13 Representative Reese. And for giving me the 14 opportunity to speak here today. As the native son of 15 Monessen, just 20 some miles down the road, I have 16 seen Westmoreland County Community College grow from 17 its finding in 1970 into the pillar of the community 18 that it is today. Since its inception, the college 19 has provided an avenue to a college education for many 20 students who would otherwise be unable to afford the 21 degree they need to succeed in our modern economy. 22 Unfortunately, despite the college's best efforts to 23 control costs, a college education is simply getting 24 more expensive. 25 I am pleased that the Governor and Sargent's Court Reporting Service, Inc. (814) 536-8908 6 1 Chairman Santoni have stepped up to offer a proposal 2 that will allow young men and women across 3 Pennsylvania to have access to quality higher 4 education. 5 House Bill 1317 is a good starting point 6 for the discussion of how to provide tuition relief. 7 And I would like to add my voice to that discussion 8 here today. To maximize the efficiency and 9 effectiveness of the funding mechanism for tuition 10 relief, I believe Pennsylvania must consider the 11 models used by most other states that have legalized 12 video lottery terminals. 13 In my view, the Commonwealth will be 14 making a big mistake if it excludes private industry 15 from the equation. By including carefully regulating 16 vendors, Pennsylvania can provide an added economic 17 stimulus, raise additional revenue through the sales 18 tax, drastically cut overhead costs for the State and 19 guarantee a more efficient system for servicing the 20 terminals. 21 As you will hear today the Pennsylvania 22 State Police is the agency charged with investigating 23 illegal terminals and it rightfully receives funding 24 to accomplish that. However, these video lottery 25 terminals are located in our boroughs, our townships Sargent's Court Reporting Service, Inc. (814) 536-8908 7 1 and our cities. The people who use these machines use 2 our local roads and enjoy themselves in bars and 3 taverns that occasionally need to rely on our local 4 police forces. As such, our municipalities also 5 deserve a portion of the revenue and I feel very 6 strongly about that. To be generated by legalized 7 video lottery terminals, and I'll emphasize it a 8 second time, that’s how strongly I feel about it. As 9 such, our municipalities also deserve a portion of the 10 revenue to be generated by legalized video lottery 11 terminals. 12 I hope the Committee will consider the 13 points I've raised here today as the study of House 14 Bill 1317 continues. As Chairman Santoni said, this 15 is the second of four hearings and hopefully it moves 16 forward. I believe my suggestions will strengthen a 17 proposal that we must pass to help the young men and 18 women of Westmoreland County, especially, and of all 19 Pennsylvania to get the education they deserve. I 20 want to thank you once again for moving me up on the 21 schedule, letting me offer my remarks, and thank all 22 of you for being here today. And if you have any 23 questions, I'd be willing to listen, or if you want to 24 hold them to the end. 25 CHAIRMAN: Sargent's Court Reporting Service, Inc. (814) 536-8908 8 1 I think we'll get started with the 2 hearing. I think what I want to do is --- so 3 everybody knows who we are and where we're from --- 4 let's start to my right with Representative Krieger. 5 If you could just tell who you are and where you're 6 from. 7 REPRESENTATIVE KRIEGER: 8 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm Tim 9 Krieger. I represent the 57th District in 10 Westmoreland County. 11 REPRESENTATIVE REESE: 12 I'm Mike Reese, I represent the 59th 13 District in Westmoreland and Fayette County and this 14 is a part of the 59th District. 15 REPRESENTATIVE HARHAI: 16 Obviously, I'm State Representative Ted 17 Harhai. I represent the 58th Legislative District, 18 Westmoreland and part of Fayette County. 19 REPRESENTATIVE SAINATO: 20 I'm Representative Chris Sainato, I 21 represent the 9th Legislative District, which is parts 22 of Lawrence and a small section of Beaver County. 23 CHAIRMAN: 24 I'm Dante Santoni, I'm from Berks County, 25 the City of Reading. Sargent's Court Reporting Service, Inc. (814) 536-8908 9 1 REPRESENTATIVE FABRIZIO: 2 I'm Fiorindo Fabrizio, 7th District, Erie 3 County.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Saturday, December 6, 2008• Harrisburg, PA
    Pennsylvania Bulletin Volume 38 (2008) Repository 12-6-2008 December 6, 2008 (Pages 6587-6676) Pennsylvania Legislative Reference Bureau Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/pabulletin_2008 Recommended Citation Pennsylvania Legislative Reference Bureau, "December 6, 2008 (Pages 6587-6676)" (2008). Volume 38 (2008). 49. https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/pabulletin_2008/49 This December is brought to you for free and open access by the Pennsylvania Bulletin Repository at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Volume 38 (2008) by an authorized administrator of Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Digital Repository. Volume 38 Number 49 Saturday, December 6, 2008 • Harrisburg, PA Pages 6587—6676 Agencies in this issue The Courts Department of Agriculture Department of Banking Department of Environmental Protection Department of Health Department of Labor and Industry Department of Revenue Department of Transportation Environmental Hearing Board Executive Board Fish and Boat Commission Game Commission Independent Regulatory Review Commission Insurance Department Milk Marketing Board Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Philadelphia Regional Port Authority Detailed list of contents appears inside. PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER Latest Pennsylvania Code Reporter (Master Transmittal Sheet): No. 409, December 2008 published weekly by Fry Communications, Inc. for the PENNSYLVANIA BULLETIN Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Legislative Reference Bu- reau, 641 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg, Pa. 17120, (ISSN 0162-2137) under the policy supervision and direction of the Joint Committee on Documents pursuant to Part II of Title 45 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (relating to publi- cation and effectiveness of Commonwealth Documents). Subscription rate $82.00 per year, postpaid to points in the United States.
    [Show full text]
  • 03-30-2007 356945.Pdf
    _ ______ A An Update on P Environmental _ Issues in Environment Digest Pennsylvania Edited By David E. Hess, Crisci Associates April 2, 2007 PA Environment Digest Video Blog York Town Meeting on Funding Farm BMPs Attacts Nearly 50 Participants Nearly 50 people came to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s town hall meeting in York to discuss how Pennsylvania can encourage farmers to install best management practices on farms through the proposed Resource Enhancement and Protection Act (REAP). So far over 200 people have attended local town meetings sponsored by the Bay Foundation to educate farmers, watershed groups and other interested citizens on this important issue. Also attending and giving remarks were Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York), a sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Ron Miller (R-York), York County Commissioner Doug Kilgore (D) and Gary Swan, PA Farm Bureau. This year Pennsylvania’s legislators have an historic opportunity to reduce pollution, protect the Commonwealth’s waterways and strengthen our economy by giving farmers better tools to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff. REAP, a bipartisan initiative introduced first as House Bill 100 by Rep. Stern (R- Blair) and Rep. Daley (D-Washington) and as Senate Bill 690 by Sen. Brubaker (R- Lancaster), Sen. O’Pake (D-Berks) and Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York), would give farmers tax credits of up to 75 percent of the cost of installing best management practices like forested stream buffer, stream fencing and other measures. Video Blog: Rep. Stern Talks About Challenges Faced by Farmers, REAP "I applaud the REAP initiative because it will be a benefit to both farmers and the environment," said Vice Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, Sen.
    [Show full text]
  • NOTICES Farmers and Local Governments for Projects Intended to DEPARTMENT of Promote New Or Existing Farmers’ Markets
    6759 NOTICES farmers and local governments for projects intended to DEPARTMENT OF promote new or existing farmers’ markets. The maximum Grant amount per farm stand or farmers’ market location AGRICULTURE shall be $7,500 and applicants shall be expected to provide 25% of the approved Grant amount in matching Direct Farm Sales Grant Program; Extension of funds or in-kinds goods or services. The anticipated date Application Period for the Award of Grants and Notice thereof is expected to be on or before March 1, 2009. The application, work plan The Department of Agriculture (Department) gives no- and budget should reflect March 1, 2009, as the project tice that it is extending the close of the period within start date and the project completion date will be Septem- which it will receive applications for grants under the ber 30, 2009. Direct Farm Sales Grant Program (Program). The close of the application window had been December 5, 2008. This Applications for the Program will be accepted by the application deadline is hereby extended to December 29, Department beginning Monday, November 3, 2008, and 2008. continue through Monday, December 29, 2008. Applica- The details of the Program were originally published on tions hand-delivered must be delivered to the Bureau’s October 25, 2008 (38 Pa.B. 5857). This notice is repeated office by 4 p.m. on Monday, December 29, 2008, the as follows, with the addition of the extended grant application closing date. Applications which are mailed application filing deadline date: must be postmarked no later than Monday, December 29, 2008, and received at the Bureau’s office no later than The Program is administered by the Department’s January 5, 2009.
    [Show full text]
  • Saturday, December 13, 2008• Harrisburg, PA
    Pennsylvania Bulletin Volume 38 (2008) Repository 12-13-2008 December 13, 2008 (Pages 6677-6866) Pennsylvania Legislative Reference Bureau Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/pabulletin_2008 Recommended Citation Pennsylvania Legislative Reference Bureau, "December 13, 2008 (Pages 6677-6866)" (2008). Volume 38 (2008). 50. https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/pabulletin_2008/50 This December is brought to you for free and open access by the Pennsylvania Bulletin Repository at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Volume 38 (2008) by an authorized administrator of Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Digital Repository. Volume 38 Number 50 Saturday, December 13, 2008 • Harrisburg, PA Pages 6677—6866 See Part II page 6843 Part I for the Department of Agriculture’s Agencies in this issue The Governor Amusement Rides and Attractions Erected The General Assembly Permanently or Temporarily at Carnivals, The Courts Fairs and Amusement Parks Department of Agriculture Department of Banking Department of Corrections Department of Environmental Protection Department of Health Department of Revenue Fish and Boat Commission Independent Regulatory Review Commission Insurance Department Office of Open Records Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Senate of Pennsylvania State Board of Education Detailed list of contents appears inside. PRINTED
    [Show full text]