According to a report, proponents of expanded gambling in the state of New Hampshire are looking at the economic downturn, the state budget shortfall, and the prospect of more cuts as a shot in the arm in the effort to get

Senate Bill 489 passed this coming Wednesday.

"I think we have momentum on our side," the bill's sponsor, Senator Lou D'Allesandro, was quoted as saying in an article on unionleader.com.

The report states that this year the bill is being portrayed as an economic-development package because it is expected to create about 6,500 permanent jobs and 3,500 construction jobs.

The article also states that the bill possesses an amendment which would see the first $50 million in state revenue from gambling-license application fees spent to restore social service cuts. The report states that the amendment is attracting an entirely new set of more liberal lawmakers.

"This economic-recovery aspect of the bill becomes a fundamental point," D'Allesandro was quoted as saying. "Everybody wants a job."

(With files from unionleader.com)