Another hypocrit

[jetset]

From Associated Press:

Gambling Critic Won Thousands


PHILADELPHIA

A recently appointed member of the Pennsylvania gaming board was a longtime critic of gambling when he was a legislator but he has won thousands of dollars at casinos, a newspaper reported Sunday.

Former state Rep. Mark McNaughton voted against the state's slot machine law in 2004 and opposed gambling for years before that, but at the same time he won $15,500 from 2003 to 2005, according to tax returns obtained by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The five-term Republican from Harrisburg disclosed his winnings on his federal income taxes but not on state ethics forms, the newspaper reported.

McNaughton said he didn't report his gambling winnings on the ethics disclosure statement for lawmakers because he didn't believe it was required. However, the State Ethics Commission says it considers such winnings income, which legislators must note on annual disclosure forms if it exceeds $1,300.

He said Friday that he was only acting on the wishes of his constituents when he opposed efforts to expand gambling in Pennsylvania.

"Gambling should not be everywhere. It should be a destination-oriented activity where you go there and enjoy the day or two and return,'' he said. "I don't believe it's in the best interests of citizens to be able to walk across the street and play slots.''

He is due to take his $145 000-a-year, appointed position on the gaming board by the middle of next month.

Ethics rules only bar board members from gambling or taking compensation from a licensee or an applicant in Pennsylvania, according to spokesman Doug Harbach.

McNaughton said most of his winnings came from playing slot machines in Las Vegas and stud poker in Atlantic City, N.J.

[spearmaster]

Don't you just love it when these shit-hot politicians can't even live by their own rules.... sheesh!

I think he should be disqualified automatically...

[winbig]

Don't you just love it when these shit-hot politicians can't even live by their own rules.... sheesh!

I think he should be disqualified automatically...

He said Friday that he was only acting on the wishes of his constituents when he opposed efforts to expand gambling in Pennsylvania.

That tells you right there he only does what's best for his wallet.

[Chatmaster]

It is very sad to see people living in the closet just to keep up appearances... It also proofs that the wheels turns and that the truth always somehow finds it's way...

[Auditor]

Another one added to the long list of hypocrits.

Fantastic find Jetset!

[babs7262]

That's my city for you!!!!! We just opened our first casino in a philly suburb today!!! WOOOHOOOOO

[winbig]

That's my city for you!!!!! We just opened our first casino in a philly suburb today!!! WOOOHOOOOO

I wouldn't really call it a casino. It's more like a slots parlor....no different than Delaware Park

[jetset]

Good work by the Philly Inquirer - McNAUGHTON has now had to go back and re-submit his ethical documents to reflect the fact that he had gambling winnings.

QUOTE

McNaughton, who retired Nov. 30 after 10 years in the House, was nominated to the seven-seat gaming board that same day by House Speaker John M. Perzel (R., Phila.). McNaughton would replace Joseph W. "Chip" Marshall III when Marshall leaves the board sometime before Jan. 16.

McNaughton's appointment, which does not require Senate confirmation, is contingent on a background check, which state police are conducting.

During his five terms in the House, McNaughton, a conservative Republican from Dauphin County, voted against nearly all efforts to expand gambling, including the 2004 law that legalized slots.

Al Bowman, Perzel's press secretary, said legislators commonly had to amend ethics forms after filing them.

"Almost every person who has had to fill out those forms has had to correct them at some point," he said.

Perzel, who had said he was unaware of McNaughton's winnings, has not rethought the nomination, Bowman said. "His status has not changed," he said.

Perzel said that he had appointed McNaughton because of McNaughton's strong opposition to gambling. "He would be an asset to the board as they take on the new role of ensuring the law is followed and enforced," Perzel said in a statement last week.

The Inquirer also reported Sunday that McNaughton had taken several trips to the Borgata with a lobbyist who represents the casino's owner, Boyd Gaming Inc. McNaughton last year had given a court deposition in a nasty divorce case in which he said his hotel stay was comped because he was traveling with a corporate lobbyist.

The lobbyist, Tom Blikle, said that was not the case. The Borgata, he said, gave McNaughton free rooms because he held a player's card, which provides accommodations to some gamblers.

[spearmaster]

The Inquirer also reported Sunday that McNaughton had taken several trips to the Borgata with a lobbyist who represents the casino's owner, Boyd Gaming Inc. McNaughton last year had given a court deposition in a nasty divorce case in which he said his hotel stay was comped because he was traveling with a corporate lobbyist.

The lobbyist, Tom Blikle, said that was not the case. The Borgata, he said, gave McNaughton free rooms because he held a player's card, which provides accommodations to some gamblers.

LOL... nabbed!

This is the tip of the iceberg - holding a player's card does not get your room comped. Only gambling does. The lobbyist was being a bit gentle... LOL... but he did say "accommodations to some gamblers"...