04: "Anti-Gambling Republican for Governor!"

It’s way too early to issue an endorsement in the campaign for Governor of Pennsylvania next year, but this blogger will present campaign information about worthy candidates as they appear.

Jim Panyard is the first. Here is a candidate who could get this blogger’s vote. That said, there are some issues that do not fit personally with this blogger’s views, such as holding the line on state spending, but they are close. Frankly, the state civil service employees deserve a better treatment than they have had at the hands of “Fast Eddie” Rendell. Most of the rest of the issues are a fit.

Primarily, the willingness to repeal the gaming bill, Act 71 of 2004 is very impressive, and tickles this blogger’s heart. It’s a bill that has already brought problems with the law that are nothing to compare to what is coming, and what has not been exposed yet. That needs to be accomplished next year as early as possible, and certainly, action must be taken before licenses are granted. One method would be to have the legislature amend Act 71 to put a freeze on the issuance of licenses for one year, to give the legislature time under a new governor to gather the votes for repeal. And make no mistake about it, we mean full repeal.

Take a peek at Jim Panyard at his website. Click here: http://www.panyard4gov.com/. See for yourself.

36 W. Main Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
(717)-791-9950 or (717) 571-7898
http://www.panyard4gov.com/


December 5, 2005


PANYARD FIRST GOVERNOR CANDIDATE
TO BACK SLOTS REPEAL EFFORT

(HARRISBURG, PA) Jim Panyard today became the first Republican gubernatorial candidate to call for the repeal of Act 71, the state’s new slot machine law, and endorse efforts to repeal the measure.

“The efforts of State Rep. Paul Clymer (R- Bucks County), conservative lawmakers, the Pennsylvania Family Institute, Pennsylvanians Against Gambling Expansion and others to repeal the slots measure should be applauded and supported by thoughtful Pennsylvanians,” Panyard said.

Clymer and others are to hold a press conference tomorrow to announce their intentions to repeal the slot machine gambling law, which would bring 61,000 slot machines to the commonwealth.

When he announced his candidacy for governor on Sept. 29, the retired CEO of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association, said he would never sign any expansion of gambling in Pennsylvania into law and, if the opportunity presented itself during his term as governor, he would sign a repeal bill.

“I think since the bill was passed on a Sunday morning, under cover of darkness, just like the recently attempted pay grab by the General Assembly, the citizens of Pennsylvania have awakened to how much this potential scarring of the state will mean to vested interests and how little it will benefit property taxpayers,” Panyard said.

“Slot machine gambling is only the foot in the door for major, unsavory interests. Since the measure has passed, news accounts of federal investigations of potential suppliers, the background of the state Gaming Commission’s Executive Director, the failure to sell licenses at fair market value, the meager potential property tax cuts for property owners and the fact that 80 percent of the state’s 501 school districts want no part of it, have been sending a clear message to citizens,” Panyard said.

“Add to that, the fact that tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians becoming gambling addicts will result in bankruptcies, broken homes and divorces, enforcement problems and suicides, and it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out Act 71, if it stays, will scar Pennsylvania forever,” Panyard said.

“I find it hard to believe that Pennsylvanians are willing to risk the lives and futures of their friends and neighbors for the promise of a potential, one-time $200 property tax cut,” Panyard said.

“I salute all who will be involved in the repeal effort and will do whatever I can to be supportive of their efforts. If they fall short, we will try again as soon as I am sworn in as governor,” Panyard said.

Panyard’s announcement was another first in his campaign that has been filled with them. He has been the first candidate in the GOP field seeking the nomination through the May 16 primary to:

- Formally announce his candidacy
- Endorse a Lieutenant Governor candidate (State Rep. Mike Turzai of Allegheny County)
- State that he is 100 percent Pro-Life, with no exceptions
- Call for a freeze on state general operating spending for his four year term
- Promise all of his meetings as governor, aside from security and personnel matters, will be open to a member of the news media.
- Promise he will roll back Executive branch salaries to their year 2000 levels
- Pledge never to sign into law any pay raises for state officers during his term in office
- State his opposition to “same sex” marriage, civil unions and paying benefits to cohabiting couples
- To end “corporate welfare” in Pennsylvania

“I remain curious about my opponents’ positions about these and most other issues. The voters probably are wondering, too,” Panyard said.

“The passage of the slots legislation was another example of the New Monarchy – the governor, the courts and the legislature – doing as they please, without any checks or balances in the decision making process,” Panyard said.

“My goals are to overthrow The New Monarchy, end “business as usual” in Harrisburg and bring principled governance back to our state,” Panyard said.

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There is much to like about Jim Panyard. It will be interesting to see if any of the other candidates stand up to the gaming money. This blogger is listening.

THE CENTRIST

"It is the duty of every citizen according to his best capacities to give validity to his convictions in political affairs." Albert Einstein

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