Oct 31, 2013 2 min read

The line between persistence and stubbornness can be thin, and Gov. Tom Corbett has crossed it in his efforts to extend a contract with a British firm to privately manage the Pennsylvania Lottery.

Corbett had the option of ending the pact with Camelot Global Services Tuesday, but he instead opted to keep it going until the end of the year. Corbett and his allies have argued that privatizing the lottery over the next 20 years would guarantee a reliable stream of revenue for the seniors who benefit from it and remove administrative costs. They also contend that Camelot Global Services would be able to expand the reach of the lottery and bring in yet more money, even though, we admit, devising yet more ways to wring gambling dollars from Pennsylvanians is something we have some misgivings about.

The governor is intent on trudging forward with the proposal despite lukewarm support from Republicans, staunch opposition from Democrats, and the objections of state Attorney General Kathleen Kane, who said in February it was unconstitutional. Heading into what promises to be a tough re-election fight next year, Corbett’s opponents are using his against-all-odds obsession with privatizing the lottery against him. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said a little over $3 million has been spent on attorneys and consultants in the effort, and state Treasurer Rob McCord, one of the legion of Democrats vying for the gubernatorial nomination, made special efforts at a campaign stop in Philadelphia this week to point out the ways that $3 million could have been otherwise spent, including additional meals and prescriptions for the seniors Corbett maintains he is so eager to help.

With a worthy but stalled legislative agenda that includes transportation funding and liquor store privatization, Corbett would be wise to expend no more energy – not to mention political capital – on lottery privatization.