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Lawrence County Officials Respond to Amendment

EDINBURG, Pennsylvania – (PRESS RELEASE) -- After just last week denying that he had such plans, Representative Michael Veon has now acknowledged that he is attempting to amend the gaming law to strip a casino license from the last harness race track to be awarded in the State, according to Bedford Downs Management Corporation.

Lawrence County Commissioner Dan Vogler stated: "I am very disturbed by this blatantly political maneuver. Mr. Veon is not happy with the Commonwealth Court's ruling that denies a harness license to Valley View Downs, which is in his district. This leaves Bedford Downs of Lawrence County as the sole remaining applicant for the harness track. Having lost according to the rule of law, he now wants to change the rules for his benefit."

State Representative Chris Sainato agrees: "If Mr. Veon is truly interested in helping Western Pennsylvania prosper, he would throw his support behind the Bedford Downs project, which will benefit both Lawrence and Beaver Counties by creating over 2,000 jobs, will generate the most revenue for the State and will benefit the Pennsylvania agriculture and horse industries more than any stand-alone casino."

Bedford Downs will also generate this revenue and realize these benefits a lot sooner than a stand-alone facility. The racetrack/casino (or racino) licenses are scheduled to be awarded in a few months. Licensing of stand-alone slot parlors may be a year away.

"There is simply no reason to create another stand-alone slot parlor other than to allow Mr. Veon to have a casino in his district," says Carmen Shick, developer and principal of Bedford Downs. "He is pulling every trick in the book to see that gets done. No matter how often Mr. Veon says he is trying to benefit 'Western Pennsylvania,' he really means his district -- no matter what the cost. He should not be allowed to highjack the process for his own selfish, political interests."

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