A Butler County Republican senator early this morning cast what he considered the "most controversial vote" of his political career.

And with his "yes" vote, Sen. Don White, of the 41st District, was among only nine GOP senators who voted to approve slot machines in Pennsylvania.

"Is this real property tax reform?" No," said White, who serves portions of Butler, Armstrong, Clearfield and Westmoreland counties and all of Indiana County, "but it's a step in the right direction."

The other three Butler County senators, all Republicans, voted against the bill that would expand gambling in the state.

"Make no mistake, (today's) action makes billionaires out of millionaires," said Sen. Mary Jo White, whose 21st District includes parts of Butler, Erie and Warren counties and all of Clarion, Forest and Venango counties.

"It was sold to Pennsylvanians under the false promise of providing meaningful property tax relief to homeowners. This is not about tax relief - it's about directing money to a select few."

The Senate-approved bill would legalize more than 60,000 slot machines at 14 venues in Pennsylvania, with revenue earmarked for property tax cuts of about 20 percent - about $300 per average household - and billions of dollars to aid public projects across the state.

A Gaming Control Board would be created to review applications, grant licenses and oversee slot parlors.

The Republican-controlled Senate approved the bill, 30-20, with all 21 Democrats supporting the measure.

Republican Sens. Jane Orie of the 40th District, which includes Butler and Allegheny counties, and Bob Robbins of the 50th District, which covers parts of Butler and Lawrence counties and all of Mercer and Crawford counties, voted against the bill.

The House of Representatives is scheduled today to consider similar legislation, with an expected vote later in the day or Saturday.

The House is all but certain to approve the measure, and Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell has vowed to sign legislation into law.

Today's vote represented the second time the Senate has approved a slots plan for Pennsylvania. The Senate and House last summer passed legislation; however, the measure died after a compromise measure failed.

All four Butler County senators voted against the slots bill the first time around.

Don White said he changed his vote Friday because the latest legislation provided sufficient measures to contain corruption and addiction.

"It's risky," he admitted in referring to using slots as a means to raise revenue, "but we've already hit about every tax source we can."

"Still, this is not going to be the silver bullet," he added. "More work has to be done for property tax reform."

Robbins, a staunch opponent of efforts to expand gambling in the state, has remained skeptical that slots would bring in the projected $1 billion that supporters have claimed.

He said the gambling market has become saturated.

"Delaware has slots now and they're going with casinos, and Maryland is going to slots," said Robbins. "I don't think the income for any meaningful property taxes will be there."

Mary Jo White, who called the measure ill-conceived and irresponsible, failed in efforts to amend the bill by expanding disclosure requirements and vested interest limitations on members of the Gaming Control Board, and prohibiting slot parlors from furnishing free or below-cost alcohol to patrons.

"I am extremely disappointed that the Senate failed to adopt these common sense changes," she said. "They simply would have made a bad bill a little bit better."

She called passage of the measure a "sad day" for Pennsylvania.

"There is an old Chinese proverb that says if you ride a tiger you better have a good plan for getting off," she said. "Pennsylvania is now riding the gambling tiger, and there's no getting off.

"It won't be long before the gambling interests will be back for even more."