HARRISBURG -- Universities such as Pitt and Penn State aren't the only institutions that are getting upset about an ongoing delay in the state Legislature approving their 2009-10 funding.

The head of a Philadelphia-area pancreatic cancer group issued an angry statement today, saying cancer patients are being "held hostage" by the Legislature's delay in approving money for 28 universities and medical institutions around the state. The Legislature is delaying votes on that $730 million until it completes a bill to allow slots casinos to add table games such as black jack and roulette.

Table games are expected to add $200 million to state coffers this fiscal year.

"I am extremely upset and disappointed that state funding for the Fox Chase Cancer Center, a teaching hospital that treats many pancreatic cancer patients in the Philadelphia metropolitan area and beyond, has been delayed indefinitely by politicians that are using this funding as leverage in their attempts to legalize black jack in Pennsylvania," said Dr. Robert Ciervo, chairman of Fund A Cure for Pancreatic Cancer.

"I am personally offended by . . . delaying the release of monies that were budgeted to Fox Chase weeks ago," Dr. Ciervo added. "Using this funding as some sort of chip in a game is a sad display of hubris and ignorance and one that many cancer patients will never forget. Passage of expanded legalized gambling should not be tied to funding to fight cancer."

State officials hope to agree on details of a table games bill this month. Because the state needs the revenue from table games, and because state revenues for the first four months of the current fiscal year have been below expectations, officials are holding back on allocations for the 28 educational, medical and cultural institutions around the state.

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