Leaders will meet in private at UMass during a retreat organized by House Speaker Robert DeLeo.
Massachusetts Speaker of the House Robert A. DeLeo, shown at a recent event in Holyoke, is set to discuss casinos and other top issues during a retreat with House leaders at the University of Massachusetts.As Gov. Deval L. Patrick reiterated that he is "hopeful" on a deal to legalize casinos, key state legislators are preparing for a retreat in Amherst on Thursday and Friday in an attempt to kick-start expanded gambling and other top issues.
Leaders of the state House of Representatives will meet in private at the University of Massachusetts to set strategy on issues such as casinos, lowering the costs of municipal health insurance and overhauling the probation department and parole laws.
Emmaladd Shepherd of Monson, co-president of Quaboag Valley Against Casinos, criticized House members for plotting casinos behind closed doors.
"I'm afraid there's going to be some agreement done in the backroom," Shepherd said on Monday. "It will be a fait accompli. They will just announce it."
She said House members should air the issue in the open.
Patrick said on Monday that he is talking about casinos with House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, shown speaking to reporters in Washington last month, said he is talking about a casino agreement with the House speaker."I think the best thing is for us, as much as possible, to see if we can find some agreement before a bill is filed ... for the reasons we've all experienced, how it sucks all the oxygen out of the building," Patrick said. "I'm hoping we can find some general parameters and principles on which to agree before the speaker goes for it. That conversation has started ... I'm hopeful."
The retreat in Amherst is only for top House leaders such as chairs and vice chairs of committees.
Seth Gitell, spokesman for DeLeo, said no lobbyists would attend the retreat. Gitell also said that no money from the state or the University of Massachusetts would be used for room and board.
In a statement, Gitell said the event will give House leaders a chance to focus on "unprecedented policy challenges" that loom in the months ahead.
Rep. John W. Scibak, a South Hadley Democrat who is House chairman of the Committee on Public Service, defended the retreat.
"I think it's a good idea for people to get out of the building and discuss the issues as well as process," Scibak said.
So far this year, the House is off to a slow start, typical for the beginning of a two-year legislative session, said Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. Widmer said the retreat could be good if it helps House members get organized for some important decisions. "The proof will be in the pudding in terms of what happens over the next year," Widmer said.
The House has met in formal sessions only four times this year, with one accomplishment being a 151-0 vote to freeze the tax on unemployment insurance for businesses.
Timothy Buckley, spokesman for the Republican Party of Massachusetts, questioned the need for the retreat: "Do they really need to go to Amherst to find out unemployment is too high or that we have $1 billion budget gap?"