The Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Committee will hold a public hearing next Wednesday
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick speaks with reporters from The Associated Press in this file photo.Gov. Deval Patrick said in an interview on WTKK-FM in Boston today that he and House Speaker Robert DeLeo are still discussing proposed casino gambling legislation, but that no agreements have been made.
Expanded casino gambling legislation passed both branches of the state legislature last year, but came to a halt when Patrick vetoed the bill on the grounds that a provision providing multiple licenses for so-called racinos, or slot parlors in racetracks, amounted to a "no-bid contract."
Patrick's comments come just a day after Rep. Joseph F. Wagner, a Chicopee Democrat and co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, told Western Mass. business leaders that Patrick, DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray would have to form a consensus before the committee would take a vote on any bills.
In his radio appearance, Patrick wouldn't say much about whether he planned to budge on racinos (he's said before that he won't). Patrick said Thursday morning:
We're talking. The only agreement we have - and I say "We" meaning the Speaker, the Senate President and I - is to resume the hearings and refresh some of the data that we have. This is much higher on the Speaker's agenda than it is on my own agenda, but we are talking. I think we're going to find our way to something but we're not there yet. Listen to the interview »
The Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Committee will hold a public hearing in Boston next Wednesday, May 5, on proposals for gambling legislation.
The most popular proposals for expanded gambling in the Commonwealth provide for three resort-style casinos across the state, including one in Western Mass. Two different proposals would build casinos in either Palmer or Holyoke. Read more from The Republican »