As reported by the Pittsburgh Tribune Review: ” Gov. Ed Rendell’s office
Tuesday angrily denied a suggestion by state House Speaker John Perzel that
the governor has promised casino licenses to anyone who approached him.
“Perzel, a Philadelphia Republican, told members of an agricultural
association that he assured a man who expressed interest in operating a
Pennsylvania casino that Rendell had not awarded all of the state’s
licenses. However, he told him the governor had handed out promises far and
wide. “‘It’s dangerously close to slander, and positively untrue,’ said
Rendell’s press secretary, Kate Philips. “In a telephone interview, Perzel
said he was ‘teasing’ the governor, and did not mean to imply that he
believes Rendell actually has promised slots licenses to people. “…The
state’s Gaming Control Board is reviewing 22 applications for 14 casino
licenses statewide and aiming to award them by mid-December…”