The odds improved Monday for legalizing riverboat gambling in Pennsylvania. Gov. Ed Rendell said he would consider the idea, in addition to legalizing slots at racetracks. Allowing slots at the state's horse racing tracks is a key component of Rendell's plan to increase education spending.

"I'm always amenable to negotiation. I have no pride in authorship," Rendell said, when asked whether he would consider some other type of gambling beyond slots. "I haven't ruled out anything."

Rendell, a Democrat, has said over the past few months that he did not want to look at any gambling measures beyond legalizing slots. But he was a key proponent of riverboat gambling while mayor of Philadelphia from 1992 to '99.

Rendell told the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters yesterday that more than 70 percent of Pennsylvanians favor slots at tracks and that he believes it will win legislative approval by an overwhelming margin.

The Senate is expected to consider a slots bill next Tuesday.

Efforts by lawmakers to "Christmas tree" the bill with other gambling proposals could be a potential roadblock to passage, Rendell said. But when asked later by reporters about a riverboat gambling proposal by House Democratic Whip Mike Veon, a Beaver County Democrat, Rendell said he is willing to discuss it under certain circumstances -- just as he would negotiate on other parts of his plan to shift taxes and boost education spending.

The Veon bill would legalize eight riverboats -- including one in Pittsburgh and another in southwestern Pennsylvania beyond the city limits. Most of the others would be in the Philadelphia area, Harrisburg and in Erie. The bill also would create a state gaming commission to oversee riverboats, slots and horse racing.

G. Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Millersville University in Lancaster County, said he views Rendell's remarks as part of an increased willingness to be flexible on his plan to shift taxes away from residential property and to increase education spending -- which would be partly paid for with slots revenue.

Rendell has always been in favor of more than slots, Madonna said.

Veon said that with so many states facing their worst budget crises since World War II, legalizing more than just slots could provide a major revenue infusion for Pennsylvania.

"The state's revenue picture continues to be very uncertain, so it's good to keep a list of options and remain flexible about how we reach the goal of raising enough revenue to fund critical programs," Veon said. "The governor said from the beginning that he's committed to work with legislators to get this done. His willingness to do that is going to help a lot."

The slots proposal, along with an increase in the state income tax, would be used under Rendell's plan to cut school property taxes by an average of 30 percent statewide and to pay for programs for full-day kindergarten, preschool in poorer districts, smaller class sizes and tutoring. Rendell wants to raise the state income tax by 2.8 percent to 3.75 percent.

"I wouldn't rule out working with the Legislature to come up with other sources of revenue," Rendell said. "I wouldn't rule out working with the Legislature to change some of the planks of our education reform program. I'm open to discussions."

Asked again about the Veon bill, Rendell said, "I'm not going to hypothesize. It would depend on a lot of factors, including whether it was necessary to achieve final passage of our goals."

Rendell's statements were "not the least bit surprising," said Michael Geer, president of the Harrisburg-based Pennsylvania Family Institute, a research and education organization that opposes gambling.

"He is not going to veto a gambling bill" if other forms of gambling are added, Geer said.

Geer said he believes Rendell's statements are a message that riverboat gambling would be an acceptable ornament on the "Christmas tree" gambling bill expected in the House.

"I think most Pennsylvanians expect that slots will only be the first step," said Rep. Jeffrey Coleman, an Armstrong County Republican opposed to gambling.