Pennsylvania rep against horse racing subsidy

A representative said that it’s not the government’s job to pick who gets the subsidy.

US.- Rep. Todd Stephens, R-Montgomery County, revealed that he’s not in favor of a horse racing subsidy because he doesn’t think that it’s the government’s job to be in charge of it and decide who gets it.

“There may be some who profit or benefit from the subsidy, but that’s not the government’s job to pick winners and losers,” said Stephens in an interview with watchdog.org, and confirmed that he wants to see the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Fund taken down, specially since the state is facing a budget deficit in 2017. The fund has the primary function of helping additional help for breeders, along with health and retirement benefits.

“Almost every measurable outcome in the industry is down. We are in a very challenging financial situation this year in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” he added. Stephens said that the state has granted more than US$2 billion in subsidies in the last decade, and that he considers some of this money as a form of corporate welfare.