With a slot machine gambling law on the books, Pennsylvania should be focused on getting all of its proposed casinos up and running and fine-tuning its gambling regulatory mechanism.

With so much more work to be done, it's premature for the state to be pushing for table games such as poker, blackjack and craps, which are not permitted under current law.

However, consistent with early predictions that once slot machine gambling was approved here there would be a quick push for table games, especially if neighboring West Virginia introduced such games — which, in fact, has occurred — Pennsylvania officials increasingly are salivating over table games. For example, the Democratic-led House Gaming Oversight Committee on Thursday conducted a hearing on a proposed bill authorizing such games.

Now, in addition to issues that remain about casinos yet to be built and unfinished business regarding the slots-gambling regulatory function, including lingering concerns over the adequacy of background investigations tied to the awarding of casino licenses, a development Monday argues that the push on behalf of table games be suspended at least until the outcome of that development is known.

On Monday, the well-respected League of Women Voters sued Pennsylvania's former chief justice, alleging that the high court upheld the state's controversial slot-machine gambling law in exchange for approval of a judicial pay raise.

An Associated Press article about the lawsuit says that if true, the alleged deal would represent a violation of the league's constitutional rights to due process; the league was one of the groups that filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the 2004 law legalizing slot machines here.

The state Supreme Court largely ruled against that lawsuit in June 2005, about two weeks before the General Assembly, in a middle-of-the-night vote, approved a substantial raise for judges, legislators and some executive branch officials.

That vote triggered a firestorm of voter anger, resulting in the defeat of a number of prominent legislators in the 2006 elections.

The just-filed League of Women Voters lawsuit alleges that former Supreme Court Chief Justice Ralph Cappy used secret meetings with lawmakers to negotiate the ruling on the slots law and the pay raise for more than 1,000 judges, including himself and six other Supreme Court justices.

In its ruling in June 2005, the high court struck down only three minor provisions in the sprawling slots law.

If the League's lawsuit exposes sordid behind-the-scenes activity paving the way for casino gambling, a restoration of confidence in state leaders and the judiciary will be a bigger priority than table games.

The mere fact that the League has felt compelled to file its lawsuit against Cappy is a basis for deep concern about the honesty and integrity of the high court.

After the July 2005 middle-of-the-night pay-raise vote, it was revealed that Cappy had had dealings with the legislature over increased compensation for himself and other state judges. But the new lawsuit reveals a possible element of those dealings that up to now had not been brought to light.

If the League's allegations are upheld, that result will further reveal the need for major change in Harrisburg — not only in the legislature, but in the judicial branch as well.

Unfortunately, much of the mood for change dissipated after the 2006 legislative elections that provided such clear evidence of voters' unhappiness over state officials' self-serving attitudes.

Thursday's table games hearing did nothing to improve state residents' confidence regarding the General Assembly's priorities, despite some of the testimony presented. Robert DeSalvio, president of the Sands Bethworks Casino, which is under construction in Bethlehem, said Iowa's experience showed that adding table games to slots-only racetracks accelerates gains in slots revenues.

But the uncertainty for the casino — the house — with table games could mean fewer and smaller payouts to slots players, which already might be occurring in West Virginia, according to some players.

The much-work-to-be-done status on Pennsylvania's slot machine gambling front and the possible ramifications from the League lawsuit make a strong case for putting the table games proposal on the shelf for now.

Pennsylvania can't seem to muster good ideas and actions for slowing the exodus of good-paying manufacturing jobs from the commonwealth, but it's big on energy for creation of lower-wage table games jobs.

Much is wrong with that picture.