Rendell Likes His Slot Machines

It would seem that Governor Ed Rendell doesn’t just think that slot machines are great for the state of Pennsylvania and its residents; he also thinks they are great for him. Upon being asked, he admitted that he did play the slot machines, although he did not initially supply that information to the State Ethics Commission.

Rendell took home around $2,000 from his slot machine playing last year, but did not report it. A reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer asked about it, and he said that yes he had been successful at winning. However, upon checking his records it was then discovered that Rendell had not included the slot machine wins on his financial interests statement in 2008.

His press secretary said that it was simply an “oversight” and that he would file an amended statement. The aides that originally filled out the form for him had made a mistake and it was now corrected. He had reported it on his federal tax return, just not on the statement to the committee.

Rendell said that he had given a speech to the NAACP at a slot machine parlor and had stayed to play. He used the money to buy gift certificated to each of the members of his state police security detail to the slot machine parlor’s steakhouse and then gave the rest to his wife. He says that Uncle Sam got his share, his wife got hers and he didn’t actually get any of it.
 

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