Accusations and counter accusations over gambling bill amendment

He presented the first written evidence in the controversial issue - a list of amendments, signed by the SLD deputy. Błochowiak had proposed a four-fold reduction of the tax, arguing that in the government's bill it was, "Outrageously high and likely to support, rather than eliminate, the black market." Błochowiak yesterday claimed that she had not issued any such amendment, while the head of Prime Minister's Office, Marek Wagner, suggested that it had been proposed by PO Deputy, Zbigniew Chlebowski. "Wagner has acted as a liar and tried to shift the blame. I expect the Prime Minster will dismiss him," said Rokita. Chlebowski announced he would sue Wagner in the court. Wagner in return called Rokita a "fibber" and presented records made by the Finance Ministry clerks, pointing at Chlebowski as the initiator of the amendment. Meanwhile, the head of the SLD Parliamentary Club Jerzy Jaskiernia and the owner of a nationwide network of gambling machines, Maciej Skórka, refuted an accusation that the latter was a social assistant of the former. (Gazeta Wyborcza, pp. 1, 2, 6) M.K.