Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts strives to educate the public and citizens of Massachusetts on subjects useful and beneficial to the community, in order to create a more diverse, educated, economically competitive, and environmentally sustainable Commonwealth. These aims are furthered through presenting topics in a full and fair manner to a wide audience in order that the public may form independent opinions and conclusions, by making available the results of nonpartisan analysis, study, or research on legislative issues, by performing advocacy and, to a significantly lesser degree, by engaging in grassroots lobbying.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Boston Globe Editorial Calls Casino Bill "deeply flawed"

In a terrific September 8, 2011 editorial, the Boston Globe railed against the insider politics and sweetheart deals that characterize the proposed expanded gambling bill currently working its way through Beacon Hill. 

Among other things, the Globe accuses House Speaker Robert Deleo of wording the bill to expressly benefit his own district in an "unwarranted" manner.  In addition to revenue kick-backs from slot parlors to subsidize race purses at Suffolk Downs, the bill will prevent citizens of Boston from participating in a ballot vote on whether a slot barn should be permitted in Deleo's own district.  Deleo has accomplished this by including a clause directing that in any city with greater than 125,000 residents, only the host "ward" must approve a casino.  Curiously, this clause would only apply to Boston, Worcester, and Springfield.  As such, the residents of Boston would not be included in a vote to decide upon the fate of a slot barn in Deleo's Suffolk district. 

For these and other reasons, the editorial calls upon "rank-and-file lawmakers to reject the plan."

Click here for the full article.
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