Patrick Toe Extend Legislative Session To Complete Gambling Bill

Sunday was supposed to be a day when lawmakers in Massachusetts returned home to their families and left their work in the Massachusetts Legislature behind. Governor Duval Patrick informed lawmakers Wednesday that those plans may have to be put on hold.

Gov. Patrick issued a warning to legislators that if their work of expanding gambling and tightening up other bills is not complete by the end of the session Saturday, that extra time will be required. Patrick focused on the idea that Massachusetts residents have sent these lawmakers to do a job, and it must be completed.

"I hope it gets done by the end of the day on Saturday when the session formally ends," said Patrick, as reported by The Boston Globe. "But if it doesn't, the Legislature needs to stay in session until it gets done. If that means some additional days and extending the session, I'm calling on them to do just that."

The House and the Senate have agreed that new gambling is necessary in the form of casino resorts. How many resorts, and whether or not state racetracks get slot machines are the issues that legislators have been trying to work out for several weeks now.

Each day it appears more likely that the Saturday deadline will not be met. The Senate sent their latest compromise to the House on Wednesday morning. The deal called for the track slot issue to be determined at a later date by a gaming commission. The House may be unwilling to sign off on such a deal, with House Speaker Robert DeLeo strongly in favor of the slot gambling.

Senate President Therese Murray and Governor Patrick have expressed their opposition to slots at the tracks. Patrick has gone as far as to say he may veto any legislation that has the slots attached.

Representatives from the House and Senate have been chosen earlier this week and have been negotiating a compromise, although little progress has been made in the first three days. Thursday, the pressure to complete a deal will rise with only two days left until the end of the session.

July 28, 2010
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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