Governor's Proposal to Privatize PA Lottery Must Protect and Enhance Funding for Existing Programs Serving Older Pennsylvanians

News provided by

Apr 04, 2012, 02:52 ET

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP Pennsylvania today said the Corbett Administration's investigation into privatizing the operations of the Pennsylvania Lottery needs to ensure the lottery delivers predictable revenue streams and generates new resources for vital programs currently serving older adults.

Governor Corbett's administration recently announced plans to investigate a private management agreement for the Pennsylvania Lottery to provide more reliable revenues and maintain the strength and viability of programs supporting older Pennsylvanians.

"We could look favorably on a plan that effectively stabilizes lottery revenues for budgeting purposes and enhances resources for services that help older adults remain at home and in their communities," said Ivonne Bucher, AARP Pennsylvania State Director. "We need to see how the investigation process plays out."

Pennsylvania operates the nation's sixth-largest lottery, with total sales of $3.2 billion in the 2010-11 fiscal year. Established in 1972, the Pennsylvania Lottery also is the nation's only lottery with proceeds exclusively benefitting programs serving older state residents. Lottery revenues fund property tax/rent rebates; prescription drug assistance through PACE, PACENET and PACE-PLUS Medicare; free transit and reduced fare rides on public transit systems; a wide range of home and community-based long term living services, and social, recreational and educational services provided by area agencies on aging and more than 500 senior centers statewide.

In recent years, lottery proceeds also helped finance the state's share of the Medicaid program. Over the past five years, more than $1 billion in lottery revenues were transferred to Medicaid, with another $250 million transfer included in the Governor's 2012-13 budget proposal.

"We will be very vigilant throughout this investigation and any subsequent efforts to privatize the lottery," said Bucher. "We look forward to a process that continues to emphasize transparency so older Pennsylvanians have no doubt about the future scope and availability of lottery-funded programs."

AARP has 1.8 million members in Pennsylvania. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with nearly 35 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Contact: Steve Gardner, AARP Pennsylvania
(717) 237-6481 or [email protected]
Or
Angela Foreshaw, AARP Pennsylvania
(267) 825-9922 or [email protected]

SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania