What's Tom Corbett Up to Now? (Private takeover of PA Lottery?)

[blue neen]

"HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania received one bid in response to its search for a private manager to run the state's lottery system, officials announced this afternoon."

"United Kingdom-based Camelot Global Services LLC was the only company to submit a bid outlining how much revenue it pledged to raise over a 20-year management contract."

"Gov. Tom Corbett's administration briefed legislative staffers on the Camelot bid during a conference call this afternoon. The Department of Revenue posted a document listing the company's profit commitments on its website, though additional materials will remain confidential until a final decision is made."


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/one-company-submits-bid-to-privatize-the-pennsylvania-lottery-662949/#ixzz2CoAgrsSq

[blue neen]

1. Now, HERE is where it gets interesting:

"The administration already has begun discussions with union officials about possible layoffs that would result. The agreement with the private lottery manager would require they retain 70 state employees, but Revenue spokeswoman Elizabeth Brassell said the bidder has expressed interest in the possibility of hiring some of the lottery's other 160 employees."

<snip>

"The state's lottery is one of the nation's top performers, which is among the reasons why Democratic lawmakers and union officials have questioned going the privatization route."

"Last year, the lottery posted a record $3.2 billion in ticket sales, producing a profit of nearly $961 million to put into programs for senior citizens. It administrative costs, around 2 percent of ticket sales, are among the lowest of lotteries operating in the nation."

"David Fillman, executive director of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 13, said, “There is no good reason to dismantle the lottery. The administration has sold out our seniors and our members without one public hearing; without any legislative oversight and without anyone knowing how they crafted the terms and cut this deal."

"Keep in mind that our lottery is not broken. We’ve set a record for total sales and net profit the last two years. The bottom line here is that every single dollar that this firm is paid comes at the expense of our seniors.”

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/11/consideration_of_privatizing_m.html#incart_river_default

[MrMickeysMom]

25. That is the history he has with the Commonwealth... if it isn't broken, privatize it!

Privatize (Charter) schools and debase the budget.
Privatize the liquor control board's package stores
Privatize the lottery (which I don't play, but take your point well)
Privatize natural resources, sucking everything from good water to bad, stinking up every fresh breath to produce shale gas for the oil companies.

I feel all of his privatization at the local level and I applauded the Post Gazette's picture of Kathleen Kane's swearing in because I hope the first thing she gets in order is the way he, as attorney general ignored Sandusky.

I'd love to shove Act 13 up his and the collective assess of all members of ALEC
I'd love to shove him in a jail cell with Jerry, who can make him one of his kids.

This despicable waste of protoplasm should go down and go down soon.

[blm]

2. Shouldn't Corbett be preparing for his indictment since he helped Jerry Sandusky dodge scrutiny

for a few years while Corbett was Attorney General charged with examining the evidence building against Sandusky, and once he became governor, Corbett then sent millions of taxpayer dollars (hush money) to Sandusky's foundation?

[amywalk]

3. He has a lot more time on his hands to steal now that he's not protecting a child raper.

[Mc Mike]

7. And if it isn't nailed down, the repugs will steal it. (No Text.)

[blue neen]

5. Maybe he is.

Governor Gashole doesn't make many public appearances these days. He prefers to do his dirty work in stealth ways.

[Eddie Haskell]

9. He thinks he's dictator.

It's time to recall the bastard.

He didn't go after Sandusky/Penn State because he knew, if he did, he'd never be Governor. He should be on trial.

[ebbie15644]

10. I don't believe we have a recall, I could be wrong though

[blue neen]

13. I'm pretty sure you're correct on that.

It's a shame we can't recall this POS, isn't it?

[Freddie]

28. PA does not have a recall process

We'll have to do it in 2014.

[MrMickeysMom]

26. Get your popcorn out, bim

I'll share ...

[Curmudgeoness]

4. This man is looking to privatize the world.

I would like to privatize his job and put him on the street. How did this man become governor anyways?

Thanks, as always, for a telling article.

[blue neen]

6. Worst. Governor. Ever.

Pat Toomey is in the running for Worst Senator Ever, although he's got some competition from Ricky Santorum on that one.

[Curmudgeoness]

11. Yeah, who'da thought we could do as bad as Santorum!

Thank god we have Casey! But I cannot imagine how Toomey ever won.

[blue neen]

14. Just like Corbett, Toomey is only in this to serve his corporate puppet masters.

We are wasting our tax dollars to pay them to "serve" the people of Pennsylvania.

Toomey barely won in a "Republican" year (2010)....and he hasn't done anything in that two years but stonewall and obstruct to the detriment of the American people.

[butterflygirl]

23. Absolutely, The Club for Growth

He and Toomey both, bought and paid for.

[blue neen]

24. Yep. Pat Toomey was President of the Club for Growth (in between runs for the Senate).

"In 2004, Toomey came within 17,000 votes of beating Sen. Arlen Specter in a Republican primary even though the GOP establishment, including President George W. Bush and then-Sen. Rick Santorum, supported Specter."

"The Club considered Specter a Republican-in-name-only, or “RINO,” and a liberal Republican who had to go, said Barney Keller, Club’s spokesman. By 2010, Specter changed his party registration to Democrat and lost the primary to former Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak. Toomey, who was the Club’s president from 2005 through 2009, defeated Sestak in the general election. The Club for Growth spent $2.6 million on Toomey’s behalf."

"Do we need to discuss the $21,000 Scaife donated to Toomey For Senate between 2003 and 2009?"

Hmmm. Richard Mellon Scaife, Pat Toomey, The Club for Growth, the Tea Party. It's all very cozy, isn't it?

http://2politicaljunkies.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-trib-fails-to-disclose-again.html

[jschurchin]

18. Best idea yet!!!!

I would like to privatize his job and put him on the street

I bet we could get a stack of applications for a job that pays $50k with a secretary, a car, and you only have to work a couple days a year. We would save $20 million a year

[Curmudgeoness]

19. Can I apply?

I am very honest and capable.

[JPZenger]

8. You used to raid the pension fund, now you raid the Lottery

[ebbie15644]

12. I emailed my state senator and rep but they are both repubs so I know it's a waste of my time!

[Curmudgeoness]

15. It is never a waste of time.

They have to hear from sane people....and if they hear from enough of them, they do (at least a little) hesitate.

I have had some of the most insane answers from some of the lawmakers who represent me, but I have a right to let them know how I feel. At least they cannot say truthfully that they heard nothing against some dipshit idea.

[HopeHoops]

16. As it is, the lottery is run by 200 people and doing fine. Why suck money out of it?

[blue neen]

17. Corbett also had the PA Lottery cancel their advertising contract with MARC USA.

The company headquarters are in Pittsburgh.

The PA Lottery employs 230+; not sure of the number of employees who will be affected at MARC USA.

Why does Governor Corbett want to outsource Pennsylvania jobs to an overseas company?

You also ask a good question...why suck money out of it?

[JPZenger]

20. Things that make you say hmmmmmmmm - contractor says no increase in rate of net revenues to PA.

If you read deep down into one of these newspaper articles on the subject, you will find out that the projected rate of increase in new profits that the Lottery provides to PA. per year will not increase with this deal. The British company projects the same rate of increase in net profits to the state that has been occurring over the last 10 years (while it was managed by the PA. Dept. of Revenue).

Then why do it? Why eliminate the jobs and health insurance that supports 160 Pennsylvania families? So you can brag to your teabagger donors that you "privatized" something that was working fine already?

Why did all of the other competitors drop out of the bidding process? Was it because they realized they couldn't run the Lottery better than it is already being run, and still make a profit?

And he wants to tie our hands contracturally for TWENTY YEARS.

[blue neen]

21. There seems to be no good reason to make this change.

Twenty years? Holy cow.

The citizens of PA need to ask a lot of questions. IMHO, there has not been nearly enough media coverage of what Corbett is trying to do with the PA Lottery.

[blue neen]

22. JP, you ask a good question.

WHY did all of the other competitors drop out of the bidding process?

People used to make remarks about Ed Rendell--that he made slick deals and so on. You know, Fast Eddie and all that.

Meanwhile, Tom Corbett is running Pennsylvania into the ground while being the slimiest politician who has ever "graced" our Commonwealth. What a shame that we all have to suffer.

[MrMickeysMom]

27. I didn't know that...

I sure do now.

[PRETZEL]

29. A little bit of releif

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/pa-lottery-management-deal-adds-50m-for-seniors-670886/

Fifty million more into the system next year is a nice gesture and first step.