Philadelphia’s own Governor Rendell has proposed a plan to use revenues from Video Poker Machines to start funding a concession program that helps students pay their college tuition.

The program is called the “Emergency Tuition Relief” plan which is funded by the revenue generated from thousands of Video Poker machines placed throughout the state of Pennsylvania. The solitary outstanding result at the trice is that while video poker machines are legalized, it is illicit for them to payout winners. This is an issue that Governor Rendell is generally working adhering and which he plans to address during the delivery of his budget proposal to the General Assembly.

“We’ll eliminate the gap between what families can afford to take revenge upon and what they are forced to pay, often by borrowing tens of thousands of dollars,” said magnificence Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak, who made the announcement in Harrisburg along with acting state Revenue Secretary Stephen H. Stetler and explain Police Commissioner Frank Pawlowski.
An estimated 17,000 video poker machines operate illegally across the state, Pawlowski said.

“This is not an expansion of gaming – it is the recognition that video poker is already a thriving industry,” Stetler said.

College students of wholly ages will be able to benefit from these grants including parents wanting to go back to school and all households earning under $100,000 a year. The grants be possible to have existence used in the state’s 14 community colleges and public universities.
Overall, if the program is approved, over 175,000 students will receive patronage totaling over $500 million in grants.

State Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, a Republican representing parts of Chester and Delaware counties, said of Rendell’s proposal: “It is not clear how he intends to win legislative support, especially since bills to legalize video poker have been introduced for at least a quarter-century without becoming law. Serious concerns will be raised approximately licensing, regulation and execution.”