Lawmaker says appointment process has serious flaws 

Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin/Cumberland) today applauded passage of legislation that would limit the appointment of members of the Legislature and executive-level public employees to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). 

“The Gaming Control Board was created to have exclusive oversight and regulatory authority of the state’s gaming industry,” Kauffman said.  “The PGCB was not intended for politicians to reward their political allies with high-paying appointments that have no accountability to the public.” 

House Bill 391, introduced by Kauffman, passed the House by a vote of 189 to 8.  It would create the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Membership Act by restricting members of the Senate, House of Representatives and executive-level public employees from serving on the PGCB during their term in office or employment and for a period of one year thereafter. 

Executive-level employees would include deputy secretaries of the Commonwealth, members of the governor's executive staff, employees of the executive branch, county or municipal governments, departments, agencies, boards or other governmental bodies whose duties substantially involve licensing or enforcement and who has discretionary power which may affect or influence an action or decision, or who is involved in the development of regulations or policies relating to a licensed gaming entity.  

The Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, signed into law in 2004, created the seven-member Gaming Control Board with three members appointed by the governor and the remaining four each appointed by the speaker of the House, the minority leader of the House, the president pro tempore of the Senate and the minority leader of the Senate.  However, the law did not preclude the appointment of lawmakers or executive-level public employees from being appointed to serve. 

Kauffman pointed out that he first proposed this measure during the 2007-08 session and reintroduced it during the 2009-10 session.  Specifically, House Bill 460 was filed on Feb. 26, 2007, and House Bill 608 was introduced on Feb. 24, 2009.   

“For more than four years, I have taken exception to the idea of former lawmakers serving on the Gaming Control Board.  Many believe that allowing these appointments was an error in the original gaming passed in 2004.  Passage of this legislation takes a first step toward prohibiting this practice in the future,” Kauffman said.  “The people of Pennsylvania are calling for a new kind of government and this legislation helps answer that call.” 

House Bill 391 now goes to the Senate for consideration. 

State Representative Rob Kauffman
89th District, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Contact:  Tim Eller
teller@pahousegop.com
717.260.6242
RepKauffman.com