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Cover Stories Summer 2004 Pennsylvania Becomes the Eighth State to Outlaw Greyhound Racing Harrisburg: Gov. Edward G. Rendell signed House Bill 832 into law May 21, prohibiting pari-mutuel greyhound racing in the state. Originally introduced as a measure requiring parental consent for minor children to be tattooed or body-pierced, HB 832 was amended in the Senate by Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf to include the language prohibiting dog racing. The bill passed the Senate 49-1 on May 4 and the House 197-1 on May 12. The new law reads: "A person who holds, conducts or operates a greyhound race for public exhibition in this Commonwealth for monetary remuneration commits a misdemeanor of the fir+st degree." Greenleaf, R-District 12, and Rep. Charles McIIhinney Jr., R-District 143, began the legislative process to ban dog racing in January 2003 by introducing companion bills in the Senate and the House. "I think it's important for us to make a statement here" against dog racing, Greenleaf said, since the Legislature is poised to consider different forms of expanded gambling, including slot machines at the state's four horse tracks. "It has been my pleasure to work with the good people of Pennsylvania Citizens Against Greyhound Racing to help provide a law banning greyhound racing in Pennsylvania - a state where so many adopted greyhounds live as pets. I am happy to know that these beautiful and gentle dogs will never be exploited, injured and destroyed at racing tracks in this Commonwealth," Greenleaf said. Ellie Sciurba, founder of the Doylestown-based Pennsylvania Citizens Against Greyhound Racing, said her group worked for three years to ban dog racing in the state, beginning with a petition drive that collected more than 20,000 signatures. Sciurba said she was motivated by activists who led successful grassroots campaigns in other states to ban dog racing. Sciurba also noted the greyhound industry had made earlier attempts in 1985 and 1987 to legalize dog racing in Pennsylvania and that the governor's slot machine proposal might lead to renewed attempts by the industry to legalize dog racing in the state. In a letter to GNN, Sciurba said "Greyhound Network News and the Greyhound Protection League gave us the knowledge and encouragement to launch our three-year campaign. Thanks to the efforts of GPL and GNN, who diligently collected an archive of documented information on the activities of this industry, we were able to review the evidence and come to a clear and passionate decision that greyhound racing must come to an end." Sciurba said she hoped passage of the law in Pennsylvania would motivate others to consider similar proactive legislative action in states where greyhound racing has not been legalized. "We are very willing to share our experience," she said. Pennsylvania follows similar bans enacted by Maine, Virginia, Vermont , Idaho, Washington, Nevada, and North Carolina. Dog racing had been legal in Vermont, Idaho, Nevada, and North Carolina. Addendum: Gov. Rendell signed legislation July 5 legalizing casino gambling and authorizing 61,000 slot machines, more than any other state except Nevada. A newly created gambling commission will issue licenses to seven horse tracks, including three yet to be built; five licenses will be issued for stand-alone casino sites and two licenses will be given to resorts. [Editor's Note: GNN readers may write to The Hon. Edward G. Rendell, Governor of Pennsylvania, 225 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120.]
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