Barely before this year’s legislative session ended in Massachusetts, its House and Senate passed a bill that would legalise three casinos and two slot machine operations in the state. However Governor Deval Patrick remains adamant that he will not sign the measure despite the proposed creation of some 15,000 permanent jobs in a time of recession.

Yesterday Governor Patrick issued a statement congratulating the House and Senate on a very successful legislative session. He said, “I mention these measures because this legislative work will make a lasting difference in the lives of Commonwealth residents. By any measure, this has been a productive session. Some of that gets lost in all the attention paid to the gaming debate, but I thank the Legislature for all their good work.”

Continuing with the gaming issue he went on to say, “We have not resolved the gaming issue. Our positions are well stated and understood. I still believe that we are best served by no more than three destination resort casinos, where we get more jobs and more revenue, and not by racinos or slot parlors that bring more social harm than they do benefits. I also believe it is wrong to favor the interests of track owners over those of the Commonwealth as a whole.”

Independent gubernatorial candidate Timothy Cahill said at a news conference today, "If the governor vetoes this bill, or if he sends it back and it's unsignable or unworkable with the Legislature, he owns this recession; this is his recession." Casino supporters argue that Massachusetts loses gambling dollars when its residents travel to nearby Connecticut and Rhode Island to bet.

On Friday, Democrat House Speaker Robert DeLeo, who supports racinos and has two racetracks in his district, said he found it hard to believe that Patrick would veto 15,000 jobs and the prospect of immediate local aid funds for cities and towns. After the Governor’s statement was issued on Sunday, he now will know that his confidence in the attraction of so much new employment has been misplaced. (E-02.08.10)

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