A key Senate committee in Massachusetts held a public hearing on legalized gambling yesterday, and the voices in support and in opposition were loud and clear

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A delegation of teamsters, wearing bright orange shirts, made their presence and views known in support of a Senate bill calling for three casinos and no race track slots, with two of the casinos awarded by bidding and the third going to one of two contending branches of the same Indian tribe.

One senator demurred, saying the Senate bill without slots at tracks actually would cost jobs, not add them, a key issue in the debate.

The senator, Democrat Marc Pacheco, said the adoption of the Senate proposal would cost 600 to 800 jobs at state racetracks “almost immediately.”

House Speaker Robert DeLeo, meanwhile, remained adamant that any legislation include slots at the state’s four racetracks, a bill the House has passed.

DeLeo did say he was “open to discussion” on the issue.

(Harness Tracks of America)