HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Corbett's administration is trying to counter negative publicity surrounding its move to privatize the management of the $3.5 billion Pennsylvania Lottery.
It has distributed fact sheets to rank-and-file lawmakers as the Dec. 31 deadline for the Republican governor decide on a $34 billion, 20-year contract bid by a British firm approaches.
Corbett is facing a lawsuit challenging his authority to award the contract and expand the scope of lottery gambling. Some lawmakers say their approval is needed, and state Treasurer Rob McCord says he may not authorize payments to the firm unless its plans to expand lottery gambling are clearly legal under state law.
McCord's staff says Corbett's aides haven't contacted him about it. Meanwhile, Corbett's Republican allies in the Legislature have been quiet about his lottery plans.
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