Massachusetts Governor “No” to Gambling Law
Written by Roger S | Thursday, August 5th, 2010
Massachusetts was only a hairbreadth away from making sweeping changes to its gambling laws but it seems that there is still work to be done. Governor Deval Patrick kept true to his promise to nix the newly negotiated bill in its present form and sent it back for amendment.
In a stroke, the governor killed the prospect of 15,000 jobs, and the effects were being felt almost immediately as the Plainridge Racecorurse was forced to lay off 157 workers.
House speaker Robert DeLeo, who has been fighting to get the bill through before the session ends, said that its prospects were “very difficult”, although he would not go as far as to say that the bill is dead.
“No, I wouldn’t say it’s dead,” said DeLeo, when asked by the media. “I think I’m extremely disappointed at the governor’s filing of the amendment. I think at this point, not only members of the House but the Senate, but myself in particular, are going to have to take a step back, talk to membership, see what their feeling is relative to whether it be moving forward, coming back, whatever it may be.
“So, as of right now until the session’s over ,” he said, “there is nothing dead. But I’d have to say it’s probably very difficult once the governor filed an amendment that was pretty much tantamount to filing a veto.”
The only way that the bill could advance at this stage is if enough members of the House support a return to formal sessions. Senate President Therese Murray has already indicated that not enough members support the idea, meaning that not much hope is being held out for the bill.
DeLeo, on his part, said that he would “talk to the House as to their willingness whether to come back or whatever action to make.”
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· Written by Roger S · Filed Under Poker Gossip · Comments Off
