Governor Corbett and AG Kathleen Kane trade barbs over lottery deal

(Harrisburg) -- Governor Corbett is pressing state Attorney General Kathleen Kane to say whether she'll approve a contract to hire a British firm to manage the $3.5 billion Pennsylvania Lottery.

Camelot Global Services' bid to take over lottery management from state employees expires Saturday. Kane has three weeks to decide whether the 20- to 30-year contract is legal.

Kane, a Democrat, isn't saying when she'll decide, but says it's disingenuous to suggest that the contract review is a simple, ministerial exercise. Corbett, a Republican, says he expects a decision this week, but isn't saying whether he's discussing a bid extension with Camelot.

Corbett says he believes Camelot can do a better job raising lottery profits. Democratic lawmakers criticize Corbett as diverting money from programs for the elderly to a foreign firm.