HARRISBURG -- A group of state House Republicans who have consistently criticized expanded gaming in Pennsylvania issued a new call today for reforming the 2004 law that legalized slot machines.

"We can't continue to wash a dirty, shattered window," said Rep. Mike Vereb, R-Montgomery. "This law is broken and we have to fix it."

The gambling law is "weak and riddled with loopholes,'' added Rep. Curt Schroder, R-Chester.

Their concern about the current law has grown due to recent talk by some legislators about legalizing table games in state casinos and then taxing the gross gaming revenue to raise about $200 million and help offset the state's $3.2 billion deficit.

"Now that the state budget deficit has surpassed the $3 billion mark,'' he added, "Gov. (Ed) Rendell and Democratic leaders are looking to expand gaming to generate additional state revenue, but that can't be considered before flaws in the current law are fixed.''

They supported, to some degree, a gaming reform bill now in the Senate, Senate Bill 711. It would reinstate a ban on casino officials' campaign contributions to state elected officials, and it would also prohibit convicted felons from holding any position in the state's gaming industry. The bill could be voted on in the Senate next week and sent to the House.

But the House Republicans said Senate Bill 711 doesn't go far enough. They plan to amend the proposal to include:

• Placing authority to enforce Pennsylvania's gaming laws in the hands of the Pennsylvania State Police or attorney general. Currently, this authority is in the hands of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

• Increasing transparency of how casino licenses are awarded by opening the license application process to the public, rather than keeping it private, as in the past.

• Authorizing the governor to appoint all seven Gaming Board members with Senate input and approval. Currently, three board members are named by the governor and the other four are named by top legislative leaders, but there is no Senate hearing or confirmation.

Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, maintained that the 2004 slots law was one of the "single worst-written bills" the Legislature has ever passed, adding that it needs to be "completely overhauled."

He added, "Shame on us if we don't get it right this time. It has been a stain on this commonwealth, on this Legislature and on the governor in particular."

Rednellspokesman Chuck Ardo said the governor shouldn't take criticism for a move to expand gaming.

"The anti-gaming critics reflexively blame Ed Rendell whether he is involved or not," he said. "He has not advocated expansion of gaming to include table games and continues to believe that all the currently licensed slots venues should be up and operating before any expansion of gaming is enacted."