Pennsylvania’s Big Budgetary Gamble With Proposal for ‘Satellite’ Casinos

STATE BUDGETS | State lawmakers in Pennsylvania are considering whether to allow up to 10 new, smaller-sized “satellite” casinos in locations throughout the commonwealth. The move would be part of an effort to balance Pennsylvania’s still-unfinished budget. There are concerns over how the proposed gaming sites could affect the state’s existing casino industry, which generates roughly $1.4 billion in state and local revenues annually. "The worst reason to expand gambling is to solve this year's budget shortfall," said Michael Pollock, managing director of the New Jersey-based Spectrum Gaming Group. State Rep. Stephen Bloom, a Republican, framed the plan this way: "I hate it [voting for expanded gambling]. I just hate it less than taxes." [The Patriot-News / PennLive]

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, plans to take his case to the state Supreme Court now that a Ramsey County judge has struck down his veto of the legislature’s budget, calling it a misuse of constitutional authority to force lawmakers to renegotiate tax cuts. The legislature is controlled by Republicans. “I have worked hard to restore sound fiscal integrity to our State Government,” Dayton said. “My line-item veto was targeted to achieve this result.” [Star Tribune]

CORRECTIONS | A new program gives inmates in White County, Tennessee 30 days credit toward jail time if they agree to undergo a voluntary contraception procedure—vasectomies for the men or birth control implants for the women. The ACLU is calling the initiative “unconstitutional.” General Sessions Judge Sam Benningfield signed the standing order that began the project in May, and since then 32 women have gotten the free Nexplanon implant and 38 men have opted into the program and are awaiting their vasectomy procedures. Explaining his decision, Benningfield said, “I hope to encourage them to take personal responsibility and give them a chance, when they do get out, to not to be burdened with children.” But Bryant Dunaway, the district attorney who oversees prosecution of cases in White County isn’t so certain the program is ethical or legal. “It’s concerning to me, my office doesn’t support this order,” Dunaway said. “It’s comprehensible that an 18-year-old gets this done, it can’t get reversed and then that impacts the rest of their life,” he added. [WTVF-TV / NewsChannel 5]

ENVIRONMENT | The Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Integrity Project is suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for not properly policing air pollution permits the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has issued to some of the nation’s largest industrial facilities. According to the lawsuit, the TCEQ permits are “so vague and complicated” that commission employees “aren’t always sure if a plant is in violation, and therefore fail to adequately punish bad actors.” [Texas Tribune]

ELSEWHERE …

Mariposa County, California: The Detwiler wildfire has doubled in size, threatening power lines and forcing evacuees. Now 45,724 acres, up from 25,000, the wildfire west of Yosemite National Park is being fueled by tall grass and overgrown shrubs nourished by winter rains in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency. [Los Angeles Times; KCRA]

​​​​​​Chicago, Illinois: One of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s long-time city hall aides, Deputy Mayor Steve Koch, is leaving after six years. Koch “played a key role in rebuilding Chicago's finances and boosting its post-recession economy” and helped “quarterback Emanuel's struggle for city funding with Gov. Bruce Rauner.” [Crain’s Chicago Business]

Olympia, Washington: It looks unlikely that Washington state lawmakers will pass a rural water-use bill or a construction budget as the legislative session there entered its final day. Senate Republicans have opposed the passage of a two-year, roughly $4 billion capital construction budget without coming to an agreement on a water-use bill, which would aim to address a state Supreme Court decision. That ruling, known as the Hirst decision, has created complications for some rural property owners seeking to build homes. [The Seattle Times]
 

Billings, Montana: The City Council will consider an ordinance allowing residents to keep micro- or mini-pigs as pets. The pigs would have to be licensed and weighed once a year to ensure they don’t exceed the legal limit of 125 pounds. “We don’t think we will have a lot of complaints about noise or smell,” according to the Animal Control Board co-chair. “We might be surprised how little fanfare there is.” [Billings Gazette]

Portland, Oregon: The city finance office wants to see rules changed so that it no longer has to seek City Council approval for most six-figure consulting contracts. Officials with the office say that the current approval process wastes time. A proposal the Council is set to consider Thursday would up the value of consulting contracts that the city’s procurement officer could approve without an OK from city legislators to $500,000 from $100,000. [OregonLive / The Oregonian]

Tulsa, Oklahoma: The Tulsa Public Schools still need to hire nearly 100 teachers with the first day of school roughly a month away. “I hate to say it, but it has been pretty slim pickings today,” said one junior high principal at a hiring fair. [Tulsa World]

Wellsville, Ohio: The village council this week approved a financial recovery plan as prepared by the mayor. The plan will be submitted to Gov. John Kasich and reviewed by Wellsville’s Financial Planning and Supervision Commission. [The Review]