http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.s..._perm.html

Quote:Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday affixed what he hopes will be a final patch on a $2.3 billion budget deficit.

The governor made the announcement during an appearance at the monthly Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon in Harrisburg.

The good news is that by accepting the plan passed by the state legislature this month, Wolf can guarantee that $32.0 billion in state obligations to public schools, universities and a variety of human services agencies will be met.

The cost is two-fold:

The state has doubled-down on its investment in the commercial gambling market, with new expectations of revenue from Internet-based games and a second string of casinos scattered around the Commonwealth.

A significant portion of a $350 million or so annual funding stream from the 1998 multi-state settlement with the nation's major tobacco companies will be diverted for at least the next 20 years from the health and research programs it has traditionally supported into the general fund.

What a POS gov't. First, you expand gambling so that you can patch you budget hole via thru the misery of others. Second, you divert the tobacco settlement money to the general fund and not towards the intended purpose THE STATES sued for in the first place.

No problem with the expanding gambling , it's a valid revenue source...

That being said, when you divert funds (kinda like the national govt does) that's a problem. (see Illinois/Missouri/lottery... education)