Creighton was joined by fellow GOP Reps. Katie True, Dave Hickernell, Gibson C. Armstrong, Gordon Denlinger, Scott Boyd and Roy Baldwin in co-sponsoring the bill, which was written by state Rep. Paul Clymer, a Bucks County Republican.

Despite the support, however, at least one of the bill's cosponsors questions whether it has a good chance of approval.

Clymer said recent public outrage over how lawmakers suspended House rules last summer to approve a now-repealed pay raise could lead to a vote abolishing the gambling law.

The law was approved on July 4, 2004, in the early hours in the same manner as the pay raise, Clymer said.

"The public has a new, profound interest in what's happening in government," he said. "We feel this is the right time to do this."

State Rep. Mike Sturla, a Lancaster city Democrat who supports using slot machine revenue, said the bill faces a formidable obstacle: Gov. Ed Rendell.

Rendell is a strong supporter of slots and is unlikely to approve a repeal of the legislation.

"I don't imagine (Clymer and his supporters) have a two-thirds majority ... to override" a potential veto, Sturla said.

Sturla backs another House bill that would mandate Pennsylvania's school districts to accept slot machine revenue for property tax relief.

Another hurdle for Clymer's bill is the more than 20 bills pending in the Legislature to provide school property tax cuts for residents. Some lawmakers propose paying for the cuts with slots revenue.

The slots law is expected to generate $3 billion in revenue by allowing 61,000 slot machines to operate throughout Pennsylvania.

"Where are they going to get a billion dollars in property tax relief?" Sturla asked of Clymer's supporters.

Clymer said the key issue is protecting Pennsylvania's social values, which would be undermined by expanded gambling.

"(Casinos) ... strip humanity of its last dollar," he said. "They redefine gambling by cleverly saying it's entertainment.

"I don't understand how someone puts a $1,000 chip into a slot machine and in 10 seconds -- however long it takes to spin -- they lose that. How's that entertainment?"

Hickernell said the bill suffered a setback when House Speaker John Perzel sent it to the Tourism and Recreational Development Committee, chaired by Rep. Robert Godshall.

Godshall, a Montgomery County Republican, is a past supporter of using slots revenue for public education.

"(Clymer's bill) probably won't see the light of day," Hickernell said.

According to a Pittsburgh newspaper, several polls indicate 60 percent of state residents support the slots law because it would keep in Pennsylvania money that now goes to casinos in New Jersey, Delaware and West Virginia.

"We already lose $3 billion a year to neighboring states," Sturla said. "The fact of the matter is, (gambling) is at all our borders."

Some Lancaster County Republicans said they doubt the 60 percent figure is accurate.

"That is just not the majority of my constituents," said True, an East Hempfield Township Republican.

True said lawmakers should be cautious about basing property tax relief on slot machine revenue.

"We're talking about money we don't have," she said. "How do we base property tax relief on money we don't have?"

Dave Pidgeon's e-mail address is dpidgeon@lnpnews.com.

"We feel this is the right time to do this." ~ Rep. Paul Clymer, Bill's sponsor