Stop gambling expansion now!

We need your help today in contacting a few state legislators.

While we prepare for our SugarHouse direct action next week, we're mindful that our state government is busy trying to craft legislation to legalize table games. We want to register opposition and remind them that they promised that reform comes first -- and explain what reform needs to look like.

Exercise your freedom of speech by contacting these key legislators:

• Sen. Joe Scarnati: (717) 787-7084, jscarnati [at] pasen [dot] gov
• Sen. Jane Orie: (717) 787-6538, jorie [at] pasen [dot] gov
• Sen. Vincent Hughes:  (215) 879-7777, hughes [at] pasenate [dot] com
• Rep. Dwight Evans:  (215) 549-0220, devans [at] hacd [dot] net
• Rep. Mark Cohen:  (215) 924-0895, mcohen [at] pahouse [dot] net

Here are some talking points:

A. Don't vote on table games until you've repealed or reformed Act 71.

B. The current reform bill (Senate Bill 711) is incredibly weak. Real reform needs to accomplish the following: allow a local referendum; require a 1,500-foot buffer zone between casinos and neighborhoods; eliminate the direct appeals to the State Supreme Court so that decisions of the Gaming Control Board receive meaningful judicial review; require that casinos close at 2 a.m.; eliminate the serving of free alcohol; and, require mandatory monthly statements so losses and addiction can be spotted. Demand they enact these real reforms before they even think about table games.

Next week, many of you will participate in a direct action at the SugarHouse site (RSVP here) to demonstrate the next step in our increasing resolve against the proposed casinos. Contacting our legislators is just as important and we hope you do both.

This is a struggle worth our time and effort. Let us stand by our principles and state our opposition to what they're doing -- and that we will not forget. Please make a quick phone call or email now to the legislators listed above. If emailing, send us a copy at info [at] casinofreephila [dot] org.