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Massachusetts gambling bill in the hands of the Governor

Posted on August 2nd, 2010

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At the formal session’s end on Saturday, a handful of bills weren’t able to meet the deadline. Among these bills that failed to make it is the proposed expanded gambling bill allowing for three casinos across different locations and slot machines at a couple of racetracks in Massachusetts. The bill, which gained tremendous momentum the past couple of weeks had seen numerous revisions and compromises from both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Originally, before any compromise was made between the two lawmaking bodies, there were two bills passed by each—the House bill which proposed two casinos and allowing slot machines, and the Senate bill which allowed three casinos but disallowed any slot machines in any of Massachusetts’ racetracks.

In the weeks to come after the proposal of the bills, both the Senate and the House revised their bills in an attempt to compromise the two bills. The basic focus of the disagreement is on the issue of slot machines on racetracks. According to the Senate and the proponents of their own version of the expanded gambling bill, they are making the bill in order to create jobs, not to mention increasing the revenue via taxes, and slot machines is not the best way to go about the issue since it will not generate jobs. The house contends that allowing slot machines will greatly boost tax revenues plus the one time licensing fees that would be a great help to the ailing economy. Various pressures to come at a compromise has allowed both bodies to agree on a single proposal: Three casinos to be located in three different regions in Massachusetts (Eastern, Western and Southeastern) while also allowing the state’s four racetracks to bid on the licensing of two slot parlors. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick stated however that he will only concede to one slot parlor that should be put up for public bidding. The Governor is able to veto any bill the House and Senate approves. If the approving votes of both bodies reach a certain number of votes on a bill however, it becomes immune from the veto power of the Governor

With the deadline looming by a couple of hours, the House voted by a landslide 117 out of 160—a number that makes the bill immune from veto if the Senate passes a similar vote on it. The momentum ends there however as the Senate passed the bill 2 votes short from being immune from veto. The Governor said that he will not approve of the bill saying he propose another amendment to it. If the Governor does veto or amend the bill, the only way it would become a law is for the the House and the Senate to get back in session again and secure a veto-proof vote—something that Senate president Therese Murray believes is impossible.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo, angry at the outcome, said “Should the governor do anything less than allow this bill to become law . . . it’s going to be the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who are going to suffer,’’ The bill is estimated to generate $300 million in licensing fees alone. The State is estimated to receive over $400 million in annual taxes once the casinos and slot parlors start their operations. Governor Deval Patrick believes that expanded gambling is not an easy feat and as such, he wants to do it right.

Defending his stance against slot parlors, Gov. Patrick said “The decision we make to expand gaming in Massachusetts will impact our state for decades. We have to get it right. Destination resort casinos will bring thousands of new jobs and increased economic development. Slot parlors will not.” Efforts by House Speaker DeLeo to create a veto-proof bill were hampered by Therese Murray refusing to get Senate back in session saying that the Senate just doesn’t have enough votes needed for an override. The ball now rests in the hands of Governor Patrick as he is yet to veto, amend or sign the proposed bill.