Attorney General Kathleen Kane says her decision to reject a state contract that would have privatized the operation of the Pennsylvania Lottery was based on law and not the pros and cons of the proposal. But already there are claims the decision was political.
Lottery privatization was Governor Corbett's idea and he's a Republican. Democrat Attorney General Kane is a Democrat. She killed it.
The plan was for the British firm Camelot Global Services to manage the lottery. It promised an additional $50 million dollars in profits for senior citizen programs the first year.
But the contract was rejected because she says parts of it violate the state constitution and other parts aren't allowed by law.
Her midday news conference Thursday unleashed a firestorm of response. While she says her decision was not political, the reaction was.
State Treasurer and fellow Democrat Rob McCord said the administration was warned the contract would permit new forms of gambling not currently authorized by law. State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, also a Democrat, called it the right decision because it would have led to an unprecedented expansion of gambling without legislative input.
But the Republican House Speaker and Majority Leader said in a statement that they hope the decision does not set back the lottery's current operations.
But two political analysts don't necessarily see it as Republican versus Democrat or Governor versus Attorney General.
"Some of the media want to hype this up as a declaration of political war,” commented Republican analyst Charlie Gerow. “I don't see it that way. It might be a little skirmish, sometimes skirmishes escalate."
"I think she was doing some of the heavy lifting for Republicans in the General Assembly who also had questions about the legality of the contracts," believes Democrat strategist Tony May.
The current contract expires Saturday and that could end the question. But Camelot has the option to extend it. That would give the Governor time to appeal the Attorney General's decision.
Lottery privatization was Governor Corbett's idea and he's a Republican. Democrat Attorney General Kane is a Democrat. She killed it.
The plan was for the British firm Camelot Global Services to manage the lottery. It promised an additional $50 million dollars in profits for senior citizen programs the first year.
But the contract was rejected because she says parts of it violate the state constitution and other parts aren't allowed by law.
Her midday news conference Thursday unleashed a firestorm of response. While she says her decision was not political, the reaction was.
State Treasurer and fellow Democrat Rob McCord said the administration was warned the contract would permit new forms of gambling not currently authorized by law. State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, also a Democrat, called it the right decision because it would have led to an unprecedented expansion of gambling without legislative input.
But the Republican House Speaker and Majority Leader said in a statement that they hope the decision does not set back the lottery's current operations.
But two political analysts don't necessarily see it as Republican versus Democrat or Governor versus Attorney General.
"Some of the media want to hype this up as a declaration of political war,” commented Republican analyst Charlie Gerow. “I don't see it that way. It might be a little skirmish, sometimes skirmishes escalate."
"I think she was doing some of the heavy lifting for Republicans in the General Assembly who also had questions about the legality of the contracts," believes Democrat strategist Tony May.
The current contract expires Saturday and that could end the question. But Camelot has the option to extend it. That would give the Governor time to appeal the Attorney General's decision.
