HARRISBURG, JAN. 5, 2010 — State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) has been named as the Senate Democratic conferee on the six-member conference committee that is expected to hammer out a final agreement on table games legislation.
“I am honored to serve on this key conference committee and look forward to working with my colleagues to reach an agreement quickly,” Fontana said. “It is important that we get this legislation passed so that the industry can begin generating revenues, creating jobs and bolstering our economy with the addition of table games.”
Senate Democratic Leader Robert J. Mellow (D-Lackawanna) appointed Fontana to the conference committee this afternoon following the state Senate’s rejection of House amendments to the table games legislation (Senate Bill 711). Mellow said Fontana has the trust and support of his fellow Senate Democrats, and will represent the caucus well on the legislation.
“I am glad that the major pieces of this legislation have largely been agreed to,” Fontana said. “Hopefully, the conference committee’s actions will reflect and solidify that general agreement.”
Fontana was first elected to the state Senate in 2005. He serves as Democratic chairman of the Senate Committee on Community, Economic & Recreational Development. He also serves as a member on the Senate committees on Judiciary, Law and Justice, Transportation, and Urban Affairs and Housing.