Pennsylvania House of Representatives held a hearing on what the privatization of the lottery would mean for senior citizens and current beneficiaries.
Funding is the issue and the Representatives were particularly interested because if the lottery funding decreases, our State Reps. say the money is still going to have to come from somewhere.
“Lottery funding in and of itself won't solve the problem we are going to need more general funding as well,” stated Ron Barth, CEO of Leading Age of Pennsylvania.
Barth was one of many who testified before the house committee to learn more about the needs of Pennsylvania senior citizens and what the lotteries’ private management agreement would mean to them.
“The fact of the matter is we need more,” Barth stated. “A growing, exploding senior citizen population to the extent that it's going to use up all the senior services.”
Representative Lynda Schegal Culver says she heard the message loud and clear that if the lottery funding does not keep up and continue to increase, that money is going to have to come from somewhere.
“It's going to fall back to us to find another source of funding and we need to make sure that this continues to expand in whatever way we can,” Representative Culver of the 108th District said. “Do have a vested interest, yes, extremely vested interest.”
Wednesday, the hearing will continue with the Governor’s Administration and Camelot, as well as lottery union officials.
It is almost a guarantee the question will come up of how much money a ticket will cost and how much will be dedicated to senior citizen services.
Funding is the issue and the Representatives were particularly interested because if the lottery funding decreases, our State Reps. say the money is still going to have to come from somewhere.
“Lottery funding in and of itself won't solve the problem we are going to need more general funding as well,” stated Ron Barth, CEO of Leading Age of Pennsylvania.
Barth was one of many who testified before the house committee to learn more about the needs of Pennsylvania senior citizens and what the lotteries’ private management agreement would mean to them.
“The fact of the matter is we need more,” Barth stated. “A growing, exploding senior citizen population to the extent that it's going to use up all the senior services.”
Representative Lynda Schegal Culver says she heard the message loud and clear that if the lottery funding does not keep up and continue to increase, that money is going to have to come from somewhere.
“It's going to fall back to us to find another source of funding and we need to make sure that this continues to expand in whatever way we can,” Representative Culver of the 108th District said. “Do have a vested interest, yes, extremely vested interest.”
Wednesday, the hearing will continue with the Governor’s Administration and Camelot, as well as lottery union officials.
It is almost a guarantee the question will come up of how much money a ticket will cost and how much will be dedicated to senior citizen services.