HARRISBURG -- Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato says he's "not running away" from the drink tax.
But in remarks Monday to the Pennsylvania Press Club, Onorato said he'd like to find an alternative from the state, and that legalizing and taxing video poker machines on a limited basis statewide might be a solution.
The 10 percent tax on poured alcoholic drinks has brought sharp criticism for Onorato. "As you can imagine, I haven't been in many bars lately in Southwestern Pennsylvania," he joked in a speech to public relations executives, state press secretaries and lobbyists.
"It's been the most difficult thing I've had to deal with as chief executive," said Onorato, a Democrat who pushed the tax and a $2-a-day surcharge on rental cars to raise $30 million for the Port Authority.
He acknowledged the poker machine idea might not please legislators because of anticipated opposition from casino operators, but he'd like to talk to the county's legislative delegation about it.
"Right now I'm talking with bar owners, restaurateurs and legislators from my county to see if there is a (video poker) bill that has a shot," Onorato later told reporters.
Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Brookline, said he and fellow lawmakers promised to consider the poker machine idea and other alternatives, but that the proposal might be problematic.
The idea surfaced at a recent meeting with bar owners in Onorato's office, said Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills. According to Costa, the problems with the idea are twofold:
= Little or no appetite in the General Assembly for further expanding gambling.
= The strong possibility that the state would have to refund the $50 million licensing fees to each casino operator if the state adds new gambling, such as video poker in bars.
An opening might come if the Legislature later decides to add table games to slot machines in casinos, Onorato said.
"It's taken so many years to legalize casino gambling," said Stephen Miskin, a spokesman for House Republicans, "and now Onorato thinks the Legislature is going to allow competition to cut into the minimal proceeds?"
Onorato has maintained that the drink tax is preferable to raising property taxes to pay for public transit. He said his preferred option was using the county's 1 percent add-on to the 6 percent state sales tax.
He said Port Authority's problems run deep.
"The problem with the Port Authority ... is that management has basically destroyed the place over the last 20 years," Onorato said. "It's been mismanaged. There have been golden parachutes, and people have been walking out of there putting cash in their pockets, and it's blowing up now."
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