News

July 9, 2007

Temporary injunction lets casino stay open

PLAINS TWP. -- Although thousands of state employees will not be working today because of a budget stalemate, the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs was not forced to shut its doors on patrons at 7 this morning.

Bobby Soper, CEO of the casino, received a Commonwealth Court decision around 11:40 p.m. Sunday, in which the court issued a temporary injunction to prevent a shutdown of the state’s casinos.

“I’m pleased with the decision allowing us to stay open (today),” he said. “Not only is this great news for the 3,500 employees who work in the five state casinos, but also for the commonwealth, due to taxes.”

He said the commonwealth receives $1.7 million each day from the casino in Plains Township.

The Associated Press reported early this morning that a Commonwealth Court judge halted the closure of slots parlors at least until a Tuesday hearing, said Doug Harbach, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. State Revenue Department workers who monitor the casinos’ computers were among those ordered furloughed.

Just hours before Gov. Ed Rendell released a statement announcing a continuing budget impasse and before the court’s ruling was known, patrons at the casino had similar opinions about the casino workers whose jobs might have been impacted by the state’s budget woes.

“It’s pathetic,” Steve Stanek said from outside the casino Sunday night. “All these people were given a job, and because the government can’t work internally, these people are going to lose money.”

The Dickson City resident said he visits the casino three times a week, and he would not personally worry about not being able to visit.

“I would just wait for it to open again,” he said. “But as for the people on the payroll, there’s no reason they should be losing money. These politicians mess everything up.”

Stanek said even before the court’s decision on the temporary injunction, all the workers he spoke with said they would have to show up today for work.

Andrea Heller of Warrior Run arrived at the casino around 10 p.m. Sunday, hoping to get any last gambling in if the casino was forced to close.

“That’s why I’m here,” she said. “But hopefully they’ll come to a decision so these poor people working here and other state employees won’t be out of money.”

Heller said that during the day she was at Frances Slocum State Park in Kingston Township and heard others discussing the furloughs of state employees.

“I’ve heard this happened in Jersey,” she said. “I just hope it doesn’t happen here… it’ll affect not only the employees here (the casino), but also at the parks, and many state employees will be losing money.”

Arthur Caper and his wife, Ruth, of Endicott, N.Y., were in the area visiting family, and visited the casino Sunday night.

“I feel sorry for the workers,” Ruth said. “They did this in New York, and I think one time the furlough lasted until August. I hope Pennsylvania doesn’t do this.”

Her husband agreed

“Yeah, these politicians have to start working better,” he said. “What if these people have families? This won’t affect the politicians as much as it would to the families of the state employees, not only here, but employees in other state positions.”

The state’s five slot machine parlors on Friday asked a court to prevent the state from forcing them to close as the budget impasse threatened to force a wider government shutdown.

Senior Judge Keith B. Quigley listened to 90 minutes of arguments just before court closed on Friday, and made the decision to pass a temporary injunction after the Legislature and Rendell exhausted any possibilities to avert today’s shutdown.

State Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Twp., said the Senate is working towards principals of a good budget, no tax increases and needed control over spending.

“I don’t think we should be in a budget stalemate,” Baker said. “State workers should not be confronting the hardships and uncertainties of furloughs (today).”

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