Patrick's Bill Has Stalled
The Massachusetts House of Representatives has announced that Governor Deval
Patrick’s bill has defeated at this stage of the game. Patrick’s bill concerned
land and online casinos gambling in the state and caused extreme controversy
over revenue and job projections stated in Patrick’s proposal. Then, in addition
to those objecting to the three land casinos Patrick proposed bringing into
Massachusetts the proposal contained a clause that would criminalize all forms
of online casinos gambling – a clause that was viewed as hypocritical
considering how supporting the proposal is of the land gambling industry.
The Massachusetts legislature’s Joint Committee on Economic Development did not
recommend that the House pass the proposed bill – but even so the House of Reps
spent six hours in debate on whether to pass the bill or not. And although the
bill was overwhelming rejected by the House (they discussed everything from the
new jobs to the criminalizing of online casino gambling) the issue will now go
onto a study committee.
Massachusetts workers unions supported the proposed bill wholeheartedly at the
prospect of thousands of new jobs in the State. But on the other hand, the
Salvatore DiMasi, the House Speaker, asserts that the proposal was largely
supported by special interest groups with big money rather than by individuals
with the welfare of the State of Massachusetts at the forefront of concerns.
As for the decision by the House to reject the proposal, Governor Patrick has
commented that he fully expected the House to reject his bill as is, but that
his intention was to generate discussion on the prospects of land casinos
gambling in the State and eliminating illegal online casinos gambling. |