Senators Opposed To Gambling Using Stall Tactics In Massachusetts

Over the weekend it was a Republican senator that stalled efforts to have a vote on a gambling bill lingering in the Senate. On Monday, it was a Democrats turn to stall the process in the hopes that time will run out.

July 31st is a key date for those who want three casino resorts authorized in Massachusetts. That date represents the end of the Senate session, and if a bill is not on Governor Duval Patrick's desk by mid-July, then prospects of the casinos becoming reality this session would become slim.

"It needs to be on the floor on the Senate probably by the 15th or 16th of July," said Senate Budget Chief Steven Panagiotakos. There lies the potential that gambling opponents could continue to stall a vote on the legislation in order to have the session run out without a vote.

Members of the Senate who are pushing the casino resort plan believe that time will not be a factor and that once all of these stall tactics are exhausted early this week, a vote could come at the end of the week. Senator Steven Baddour is one of the lawmakers who feels a vote is imminent.

Governor Patrick has been pushing his gambling expansion message for several years. Last year, Patrick's plan for casino resorts was rejected by legislators, largely because of the opposition from then-House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi.

This year, both the House Speaker, Robert DeLeo, and Senate President Therese Murray, have been in favor of the casinos. The House, however, passed a bill that would include slots for state racetracks, something that Patrick is against. Patrick has stated that if the legislation is passed with the racetracks gambling, he may veto the bill.

June 29, 2010
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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