McNaughton - The Pennsylvanian Sequel

Published: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 Online-Casinos.com

PENNSYLVANIAN SEQUEL

McNaughton re-submits ethical documents....and further revelations on gambling comps surface

The Online-Casinos.com/InfoPowa story earlier this week on the non-disclosure of gambling winnings by a Pennsylvanian Gaming Control Board appointee had an interesting sequel in the Philadelphia Enquirer (which has been scrutinising the appointee) this week.

Former State Rep. Mark McNaughton, amended his ethics statements to show that he won thousands of dollars at casinos in recent years.

The disclosure came two days after The Inquirer reported that McNaughton, a vocal critic of gambling, won nearly $15 500 between 2003 and 2005 in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

He reported the winnings on his federal tax returns, but not on his Pennsylvania statement of financial interest, which state legislators and many other officials must file annually as a way of informing the public about their sources of income.

On Friday, McNaughton said he had not believed that disclosing the winnings was required. Like the IRS, however, the state Ethics Commission considers gambling winnings income, and they must be reported each year if they exceed $1 300.

McNaughton's amended ethics statements reflect winnings at the Flamingo Las Vegas in 2003 and at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City in 2005.

McNaughton, who retired November 30 after 10 years in the House, was nominated to the seven-seat gaming board that same day by House Speaker John M. Perzel (R., Phila.). McNaughton would replace Joseph W. "Chip" Marshall III when Marshall leaves the board sometime before January 16. A substantial salary is part of the appointment.

During his five terms in the House, McNaughton, a conservative Republican from Dauphin County, voted against nearly all efforts to expand gambling, including the 2004 law that legalised slots.

McNaughton could not be reached for comment when the newspaper attempted to speak to him this week.

Al Bowman, Perzel's press secretary, said legislators commonly had to amend ethics forms after filing them.

"Almost every person who has had to fill out those forms has had to correct them at some point," he said.

Perzel, who had said he was unaware of McNaughton's winnings, has not rethought the nomination, Bowman said. "His status has not changed," he said.

Perzel that he had appointed McNaughton because of McNaughton's strong opposition to gambling. "He would be an asset to the board as they take on the new role of ensuring the law is followed and enforced," Perzel said in a statement last week.

The Inquirer also reported Sunday that McNaughton had taken several trips to the Borgata with a lobbyist who represents the casino's owner, Boyd Gaming Inc. McNaughton last year had given a court deposition in a nasty divorce case in which he said his hotel stay was comped because he was traveling with a corporate lobbyist.

The lobbyist, Tom Blikle, said that was not the case. The Borgata, he said, gave McNaughton free rooms because he held a player's card, which provides accommodations to some gamblers.