That decision has the same practical effect as stopping work that would be happening now. Over the past few years, The House and Senate came together in compromise in a number of areas, including gaming. House Members put aside their free will in the best interest of the House Speakers of Massachusetts – including those most in authority, the House leadership.
“The Administration proposed 3 destination resort casinos; The House and Senate have agreed to three. The Administration proposed 3 regions for resort casinos in Massachusetts. The House and Senate settled at 3 casinos in the same regions – despite the House concerns about this in 2008. Why? The House members value only the Speakers’ instruction and reaching a landmark agreement opposite from 2008. The Senate behaved in a different fashion.
“House members have found a way to work only for their Speakers.
“Late last week, the Administration publicly appeared with a ready compromise too. We agreed to support one slots facility, if competitively bid. Now, because the compromise bill allows for two slots facilities to be no-bid contracts among two interested pari-mutuel locations, we are reminding everyone that the House decided against 15,000 new jobs and what would now be current jobs for construction and trade workers by their actions in 2008 and again in 2010. In other words, the House killed major legislation over personal egos and slot machines. With yesterday’s amendment, we are restating a casino plan we have explained for three years, but one the House rejected in 2008 and 2010.
“Speaker DeLeo has asserted that the goal of this legislation is to his help powerful donors. The concern behind his advocacy of the gaming and slots bill has been straight forward since his vote against three casinos in 2008: the political donors of our state, particularly those powerful ones who want no-bid contracts for slot machines at tracks. As a former “No” vote against casinos, he is also painfully award of the pressing need for obeying the Speaker. The House gaming bill vote in 2008 and 2010 ensured that cities and towns would not receive expanding gaming options by 2011 or years into the future.
“He has also made sure that the 2010 conference committee bill allows no-bid contracts so that only two track facilities could be eligible to apply for two available licenses of slots. The House plan permits four track facilities to share two slots licenses and prevents competition due to rigid standards. Further, Speaker DeLeo thinks the public will believe he has not been in discussions with long-time donors and is unaware of their requests.
“Due to common practice since 1798, legislative rules are waived and the current session can be extended past July 31.
“By failing to accept the compromise offered last week on gaming legislation or voting for it in 2008, Speaker DeLeo has decided to kill the prospects of 15,000 new jobs and what would now be current jobs for constructiontrade workers, never mind adding further shame the reputation of the House of Representatives and its members.
