The Daily Collegian Preservation group backs casino plan A Gettysburg developer has proposed to turn an exising development into a “resort casino.” By the Associated Press GETTYSBURG The plan to build a new casino close to the site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War has sparked support and opposition from locals and out-of-towners. Last week, the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association announced its support for the pro posal to turn an existing hotel and conference center into a casino. That came just days after the national head of the American Legion declared the plan “a national disgrace” much to the dismay of local officials who weren’t consulted before the announcement. The dispute involves a local devel oper’s proposal to turn the Eisenhower Conference Center, a hotel complex about a half-mile from the battlefield, into a “resort casino,” which would include 600 slot machines and 50 gaming tables. penn state now h call chatty charlies gabby garrys shmoozy suzys verbose vickys a:n<zi, persuasive paths! we've got a part-ti “[We] would not support a commerical project that would use ... the battlefield.” The Gettysburg proposal is vying with three others for a state gaming license. The preservation group supported the casino plan, saying it would be on the site of an existing development and wouldn’t interfere with battle field’s boundaries. Meanwhile, it would provide much-needed eco- American Legion National nomic development. Commander Clarence E. Hill doesn’t “The Gettysburg Battlefield like the plan, saying it’s too close to Preservation Association would not the scene of “substantial fighting” support a commercial project that and hypothesizing that soldiers could would use or impinge upon the bat- be buried on the site in unmarked tlefield,” association president graves. Brendan Synnamon said. The head of Gettysburg American Critics have suggested the associ- Legion Post 202 said the locals ation’s support for the plan is a result weren’t consulted, of contributions and support from “Personally, he has no idea what casino developer David LeVan, but he’s talking about,” Richard Synnamon denied any conflict of. Baumgardner, the commander of the interest in an interview with The Gettysburg Post, told the Gettysburg Patriot-News of Harrisburg. Times. Critics and supporters of the casi- He also noted that his Post is offi no plan have been reacting to pro- dally neutral on the subject. ing 11 me job STATE Brendan Synnamon President, Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association nouncements from others about the proposal’s merit. The supervisors of Cumberland Township, where the casino would be located, support the plan. So, too, do the Adams County Commissioners and the local cham ber of commerce. ion I g reat for you Rendell, aide urge funding By Mark Scolfbro ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER HARRISBURG, Pa. A summer-long discussion of Pennsylvania’s highway, bridge and mass transit needs resumed Monday with an unusual joint meeting in which House and Senate members grilled the state transportation secretary about a pro posal to raise $1 billion annually in new funding. Transportation Secretary Allen Biehler said the state could raise that sum by tax ing oil company profits and increasing motorist fees But some were skeptical that legislation could pass in the fall, when most lawmak ers face re-election and Gov. Ed Rendell winds down his second term. Sen. John Wozniak, D-Cambria, put the odds for move ment at slim to none, and said “none have left Dodge until after the election.” Rendell said the public supports upgrading the trans portation network and cautioned lawmakers that inaction would only delay the inevitable and add to its cost. The governor wants to impose an 8 percent levy on the gross profits of oil companies, which largely are able to avoid the state’s corporate net income tax. He also would increase license, registration and vehicle fees to equal the rate of inflation since they were most recently changed in some cases, decades ago. “I believe quite strongly the time to act is now,” Rendell told reporters shortly before the House-Senate caucus meeting. His plan would raise driver’s license fees from $2l to $25, the cost to register a passenger vehicle from $36 to $49 and the price of a personal registration plate, generally speak ing, from $2O to $5l. Rendell, who has barnstormed the state for weeks to press for action on transportation infrastructure funding, warned that a no-new-taxes pledge by the Republican can didate to replace him, Tom Corbett, could freeze funding for years to come. “That means this will not get done for at least five years,” Rendell said. About $7OO million of the proposed new money would be spent on roads and bridges, the rest on mass transit. The Rendell administration says the state currently owns 5,646 structurally deficient bridges, the most in the country, and has more than 10,000 miles of roadway in need of repair. PUT THIS NUMBER IN YOUR PHONE NOW! Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010 | More thanQxf/ 3/4 of all students have used a coupon or special offer!
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