The influential Speaker of the Massachusetts House, Robert DeLeo, was out raising money this week for the Salvation Army, standing in front of Macy’s department store in busy Downtown Crossing in Boston
.
Reporters covering his appearance got a Christmas bonus when the Speaker told them he planned to file an expanded gambling bill in either January or February that would include slots at tracks. His rationale reflected sound reasoning, noting that a revenue hearing last week evealed a likely $3 billion gap between state spending and revenues next year.
DeLeo called slots at the state’s tracks, including HTA member and harness racing track Plainridge Racecourse, “a natural progression.” He said he favoured the plan because track slots “provide a more immediate form of revenue for the commonwealth of Massachusetts.
By the time we finish with resort casinos, it could be two, three, four, five years maybe, for the whole process.” He said slots at tracks could start up within 90 to 150 days, and said, “As we’re working through the economic woes, I see that as a possible additional revenue piece.”
Asked about Gov. Deval Patrick’s opposition to slots at tracks, DeLeo said he saw that as “no deviation from his past feeling.” Earlier this week the governor had reaffirmed his opposition,
but did not say the idea was not being considered, and did not say he would veto such a bill
if passed. The governor is looking for greater budget-cutting powers, but DeLeo said he saw no current need for granting them. “My major focus next year,” he said, “is going to be dealing with jobs, jobs, and more jobs.”
(HTA)