Jul 16, 2003 By Paul Sunyak 3 min read

While admitting that the chances of Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa winning approval as a slot machine gaming site have faded considerably, House Democrat Leader H. William DeWeese (D-Waynesburg) pledged Tuesday to continue pressing the issue. A joint announcement Monday by Gov. Ed Rendell and House Speaker John Perzel appeared to leave only two available slots-only gaming licenses on the negotiating table – one for Pittsburgh and one for Philadelphia.

But DeWeese, who previously acknowledged an interest in securing legalized gambling for the Wharton Township resort developed by 84 Lumber Co. magnate Joe Hardy, said that potential still has life.

“House Democrats are fighting at the negotiating table in order to realize additional gaming venues,” said DeWeese from his Harrisburg office. “And a preeminent focus of my own is, of course, Nemacolin Woodlands. I was somewhat vexed when I read the governor’s (Monday) comment in the media – but I certainly have not given up my desire to advocate for these additional licenses.”

DeWeese said the key determinant of how many slot machine licenses gain approval would become clear as the legislature gets close to rug-cutting time. He added that much would depend upon state revenue projections.

“It will be thoroughly contingent on the availability of tax votes at the end of the budget process. It’s immeasurably easier to generate revenue from gaming than from new taxes,” said the veteran Democrat leader.

On a scale of one to 10, with 10 representing the strongest likelihood of a Nemacolin license and zero representing likely failure in that effort, DeWeese pegged the current status as a few notches closer to zero than it was prior to Rendell’s recent comments.

“It certainly is an uphill struggle … I think it was at five or six until the governor’s remarks, and actually it’s plummeted to three (on that scale),” said DeWeese. “With respect to the governor’s commentary, I think he was doubtful as to whether the Senate Republicans come on board for the additional venues (like Nemacolin).”

However, DeWeese referred to the fact that he’s been around long enough to know that many things become possible in the final hours of state budget negotiations. And much of Rendell’s initial budget – including property tax reform – is closely tied to additional revenues from gambling.

“If at the midnight hour of this budget exercise, the Commonwealth is still in desperate need of additional funding, I would conjecture that one or two additional licenses in the state would be hurled immediately back onto the negotiation table,” said DeWeese.

The final package should begin to take place with votes later this week, in a process that could last through the early weekend, said DeWeese.

“I’m going to speculate that we’ll have crucial votes on Thursday and Friday, and maybe into the wee hours of Saturday morning. That’s my guess at the beginning of this week,” he said.