Senator Bonacic Pens Op-Ed in the "The Auburn Citizen"

Senator Bonacic penned the follwing op-ed that appeared in "The Auburn Citizen" on July 9, 2017. The letter was signed by Senator's Phil Boyle, Simcha Felder, Patrick Gallivan, William J. Larkin, Kemp Hannon, Betty Little, Kathleen Marchione, and Thomas O'Mara.

As we return from celebrating our freedoms over the Fourth of July weekend, we should pause to think of all the men and women who have served in the armed forces of this great nation to ensure those freedoms continue to be preserved.  One of the most fundamental services we can do for them is ensuring that when they come home, they have a place where they can congregate with, and receive assistance from, other veterans. 

Unfortunately, our veterans organizations, including American Legion and VFW posts, have seen a great reduction in the revenue they generate from charitable gaming, and specifically the sale of bell jar (otherwise known as pull-tab) tickets.  Veterans organizations historically derive more revenue from bell jar tickets than any other group of charitable organizations.  From 2001 to 2015 bell jar revenues to charitable organizations have fallen over 30%, which has severely impacted the ability of New York veterans organizations to provide services to their members and our communities.

We have the opportunity to reverse this trend.  Working with representatives from veterans organizations, and our colleagues in the Assembly, legislation has been put forward (S.994-A/A.2303-A) to allow charitable organizations, like the American Legion and VFW, to utilize electronic bell jar vending machines in their facilities, which is expected to help increase the revenue they receive from charitable gaming.

This legislation has already passed the Assembly, and must be taken up by the Senate should another special session of the legislature be called.  Our veterans deserve nothing less.

A link to the letter can be found here http://auburnpub.com/opinion/letters/letter-charitable-gaming-benefits-veterans/article_6a5290ee-c9f0-5c45-897f-ad068982a88e.html