Vol. 5, No. 5, May 2008
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Two Down
Massachusetts, Kentucky pass on gaming
Two states last month rejected gaming as a new revenue source and generator of jobs and infrastructure improvements. Freshman governors elected on the pledge to approve casinos showed their lack of political acumen in the defeats.
The three regional casino bills proposed by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick were defeated after days of arm-twisting by House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, who preferred other solutions to the state’s budget crisis. Even before the vote, Patrick conceded that the bill stood little chance of passage. During his appearance before a House committee and hundreds of supporters, including union members in hard hats, he said, “I have no illusions about the plans in the House for this legislation… What you do in this committee will determine whether that full and open debate is even possible.”
Anticipating a loss in the House, state Senator Steven Panagiotakos, chairman of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, proposed a referendum in November to poll the public. Since the measure would require passage in both houses, DiMasi could still bottle it up.
In Kentucky, Governor Steve Beshear declared his floundering casino bill dead, at least for now. Beshear, a Democrat, says casinos could plug a projected $900 million budget deficit and forestall severe cuts in government services. He has advanced casino gambling as a way to fund education and vows that the fight for casinos isn’t over.
“We’ll see how things develop as we approach the 2010 session, to see what might be possible at that time,” he said. “It’s time to let the people decide.”
