Mar 4, 2008 11:22 am US/Eastern
Governor, Legislature At Odds Over Casino Plan
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
House Speaker Sal DiMasi criticized Governor Patrick's casino gambling proposal—just hours after the governor said he sensed building legislative support for the plan.
DiMasi says Patrick hasn't convinced the Legislature that his casino agenda should be adopted.
Earlier in the day, Patrick jokingly told union members they should lock the door and twist the arms of the dozens of lawmakers attending the annual Greater Boston Labor Council Breakfast.
Patrick argues that middle-income jobs at casinos would add to the higher-paying jobs he's trying to create with a 1 billion dollar life sciences initiative.
The governor also told reporters he felt he was making inroads on his casino proposal with skeptical lawmakers.
This is not the first time both sides have been at odds.
Last fall The Patrick Administration estimated that 20,000 permanent jobs and $2 billion dollars in economic development would be created over a three-year building period for all three of the proposed casinos.
There's just one problem with those numbers: they were obtained from Suffolk Downs, one of the places competing for the three casino licenses.
DiMasi now says that plan is losing credibility after an independent analysis done by the Boston Globe found that the number of jobs would actually be about half that.
On Monday DiMasi released a statement saying "As of today, it seems like we have a proposal where no tough question where no tough questions were ever asked - let alone answered."
Patrick says no matter what the exact number is, the casinos will create jobs.
"The estimates on construction jobs on the last few days range from 30,000 to 20,000 some say 10. The alternative if we follow the house's perspective is zero," said Patrick. "I think our proposal is better under any circumstances."
The Governor is expected to meet with representatives of the Wampanoag Tribe sometime this week.
Patrick wants to license three casinos in the state. Under the plan, the casinos would be distributed in the western, southeastern and greater metropolitan Boston regions of the state.
The licenses would be put up for bid in a competitive process open to Native American tribes and casino companies.
However, the Legislature must approve expanding legalized gambling beyond the state lottery and four racetracks.
Patrick says he's been talking to lawmakers individually about his proposal. The Governor says he's hoping they will either side with his administration, or at least keep an open mind.
The joint committee on economic development and emerging technology is holding a hearing on the gaming bill on March 18th.
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