Gaming legislation is being discussed because of the importance of creating jobs and growing revenues for state and local governments, according to the offices of Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo.
BOSTON – Leaders of the state Legislature on Wednesday pledged to take up a casino bill in September, providing the first timetable for debating casinos since a bill was killed a year ago.
Spokesmen for Senate President Therese Murray and Speaker of the state House of Representatives Robert A. DeLeo issued a statement late Wednesday afternoon, saying that gaming legislation is still being discussed with Gov. Deval L. Patrick.
"To allow for public analysis and a full debate, both branches plan to debate gaming legislation in September after Labor Day," said the joint statement by Seth Gitell, spokesman for DeLeo, and David Falcone, spokesman for Murray.
Gaming legislation is being discussed because of the importance of creating jobs and growing revenues for state and local governments, according to the statement.
House Speaker Robert DeLeo talks about casinos with reporters following an event in Holyoke in February.Supporters and opponents were bracing for a casino clash this month after DeLeo said in June that he was hopeful of debating casinos this month following completion of the state budget.
The Joint Committee on Economic Development, which held a hearing on casinos on May 4, will continue to consider bills on gaming, the statement said.
Paul E. Burns, president of the Palmer Town Council, said it's good to know a casino bill will be debated in September.
"We have a timetable and we can begin to look to implementation," Burns said. "At least we have something we can anticipate."
Massachusetts Senate President Therese Murray is pledging a debate on casinos in September.The Mohegan Sun is planning a casino off Exit 8 of the Massachusetts Turnpike in Palmer. An organization called Paper City Development is proposing a casino for the Wyckoff County Club, which straddles Interstate 91 in Holyoke.
Sen. Stanley C. Rosenberg, the point man on casinos in the Senate, said he believed that the Legislature could debate a casino bill, even though lawmakers will also be busy in the fall with redistricting of congressional and state legislative seats to comply with population changes documented in the 2010 census.
A casino bill hinges on negotiations among DeLeo, Murray and Patrick.
Patrick opposes slots for racetracks and effectively killed a casino bill last year because it authorized two slot licenses for racetracks. Patrick said the two slot licenses amounted to no-bid contracts for two tracks in the eastern part of the state.
Last year's bill also called for approval of three casino resorts, including one for anywhere in the four counties of Western Massachusetts.