If you're not at this morning's 10 a.m. session of the Senate Finance
Committee, then the chances are pretty good that you'll be missing out on the hottest (and pardon the pun) ticket of 2013. The panel chaired by state Sen. Mike Brubaker, R-Lancaster, will get first crack at a Corbett administration that's set the controls full-speed ahead on privatizing the day-to-day management of the Pennsylvania Lottery.
But if you heard a solid and resounding "THUD!" as you were eating your oatmeal this morning, that was the sound of the barn door being emphatically closed on the privatization agreement that would hand the Lottery over to the U.K.-based Camelot Group for the next 20 years.
In what will surely be studied by future generation of college journalism classes as a textbook example of the classic 5 p.m. Friday News Drop, the administration announced early last Friday evening that it had sent a "Notice of Award" to Camelot that it had the contract.
Administration officials insisted that this wasn't the same as a signed contract, in much the same way that proposing to your girlfriend isn't the same as getting married. But try telling her Dad that you're backing out after he's already put a $5k deposit down on the local country club for the reception.
So get there early, this one oughta be a doozy -- since there's nothing more amusing that seeing members of an oversight committee being told that there's nothing for them to oversee. The Finance Committee will hold its session in Hearing Room 1 of the North office Building.
The rest of today's news starts, as always, after the jump.
Speaking Of The Lottery ...
... did anyone else besides us catch the new PA Lottery advert that aired during yesterday's Patriots/Texans game on NBC?
If you missed it, the 30-second spot featured a kindly Lottery employee, presumably at a senior center, explaining to a befuddled Boomer that the proceeds from his tickets are going to pay for such key services as hot meals and transportation for Mom.
The ad then cuts to an aging Mom grinning happily as she tucks into said Hot Meal.
All that was missing was the smiling Lottery employee explaining to the Boomer that the services wouldn't change even if the Brits took over. But the subtext was certainly clear.
Pennsylvania Taxpayers ...
... shelled out $3.9 million to cover lawmakers' per-diems during the 2011-12 legislative session, the Tribune-Review reports this morning.
In case you were wondering, Rep. Dom Costa, D-Allegheny, received the most payments ($55,495) of any House or Senate member during the two-year session. And if you were expecting him to apologize for it, forget it.
"I am not apologizing for per diems,? Costa said. ?I am not making excuses. It?s not a perk. It?s part of the job.? And they wonder why their approval ratings are dismal ...
At A Time ...
... when most other state agencies are going begging, PA's medical licensing board is sitting on a $30 million surplus. So it's decided to give 50,000 licensed physicians a pass on the license fees they pay every other year, the Inky reports this morning. So the next time you hear a doctor cry poverty over high malpractice insurance costs, you're now allowed to whack him with that little rubber reflex hammer.
The PA Turnpike Commission ...
... is still offering its employees free travel on the toll highway even after a state audit critical of the practice revealed that it cost $1.4 million over four years, the PG reports this morning.
The State House ...
... returns to session this week for reorganization. While chairmen and chairwomen are already in place, the chamber will formally name its oversight committees today.
Gubernatorial Aspirants Dept.
Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski has announced for a third term, our Mothership colleague Emily Opilo reports this morning.
Does this take the Lehigh Valley Democrat out of the running for the 2014 Guvstakes? That would seem to be the case. But stay tuned.
What Goes On.
Rep. Greg Vital, D-Delaware, holds a 12 p.m. newser in the Capitol Media Center that no one will attend because they'll all be at the Senate Finance Committee meeting on the Lottery. But in case you were wondering, he'll flog legislation increasing alternative energy portfolio standards and provide a dedicated funding source for the PA Sunshine Solar Program.
On The Capitol Ideas iPod This Morning.
Our rundown of some of our favorite songs heads into its final week with Bob Mould and "See a Little Light."
Monday's Gratuitous Soccer Link.
It's been a while since we checked in on the transfer rumours in European football. Fortunately,The Guardian has you sorted with The Rumour Mill -- including a good one that Atl?tico Madrid goal-getter Radamel Falcao might be headed to French side Paris St. Germain instead of the Premier League.
And now you're up to date. We'll be back later with much more from the Senate Finance Committee meeting.
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