Buffer Amendment to be Voted On.

[Susan Star Paddock]

11.10.11

PA House to Vote on 10-mile Buffer Around GNMP

Since 2005, there have been two multi-year Battles over
proposed casinos to be located within a mile of the Gettysburg National Military
Park. Now we have an opportunity to get permanent protection from future
divisive battles against new casinos. Rep. Paul Clymer, (R-Bucks) has introduced
an amendment to HB2005 that will create a 10-mile buffer zone for new casino
construction around two of the Commonwealth’s most sacred symbols of our
nation’s fight for freedom – Gettysburg National Military Park and the Flight 93
National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The exact language bars new construction of a Category
1, 2 or 3 casino

"within ten linear miles of the boundary of a national
military park or a national memorial designated by the Congress of the United
States after September 11, 2001."

 The Amendment to Defend Honor

is A05962, commonly
referred to as the "Clymer Amendment to HB 2005." the vote in the PA House of Represetatives may come as early as Monday, 11/14, in honor of the Veterans Day weekend.

Past rejections by the PA Gaming Control Board have failed
to stop the pro-casino forces. Although no current proposal is public, casino
investor David LeVan has said he is suing for release from his agreement with
Mason-Dixon Casino partner Joseph Lashinger so that he'll be free to pursue
another casino in Adams County.

 

http://nocasinogettysburg.ning.com/notes/another_Gettysburg_area_casino_planned

 

According to Susan Star Paddock, Chair of No Casino
Gettysburg,
She added: "There are so many places that need our
energy in this troubled world. Let’s put the profane idea of a casino next door
to hallowed ground behind us once and for all."

"On this Veterans Day, Pennsylvania legislators should
vote in favor of defending the sacred memory of those who have fallen in
Pennsylvania’s hallowed fields. A vote for Clymer’s Amendment to HB2005 honors
the memory of those brave souls."

Mindy Crawford of Preservation PA   recently sent a letter to every member of the PA House of
Representatives, stating in part:

"On behalf of Preservation Pennsylvania, a coalition of
leading national and local preservation groups including the Civil War Trust,
the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Parks Conservation
Association, No Casino Gettysburg and our collective 36,000 Pennsylvania
supporters, I am writing to you in support of Rep. Paul Clymer’s amendment to
House Bill 2005 …

In his dedication speech at the Flight 93 National
Memorial, President George W. Bush rightfully pointed out that the heroes of
that day, in their courageous struggle, are heirs to the legacy of sacrifice for
freedom made at Gettysburg, saying, "We’ll pay tribute to the courage they
showed, the sacrifice they made, and the lives they spared. The United States
will never forget."

No Casino Gettysburg friends across PA are contacting

their legislators and asking them to vote YES on the Clymer Amendment to HB 2005
– the Amendment to Defend Honor.

More info is available at http://gettysburglegacy.org/ 

 

[Susan Star Paddock]

This amendment has been replaced with a seperate Bill: House Bill 2082, now in committee. A committee hearing will be held next week. If it is accepted by the committeee it will go to vote in the House. If it passes the house it goes to vote in the Senate and then gets signed into law by the Governor.

[Susan Star Paddock]

We are still not sure when this will be introduced.

[Susan Star Paddock]

The amendment and bill to which it is attached have still not been introduced.