BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick said Thursday that Massachusetts could check gambling to three resort casinos despite an effort by the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe to change state a potential fourth casino outside a proposed state bidding affect.
The governor filed legislation Thursday allowing up to three commercial casino licenses in the express. One would be in Southeastern Massachusetts another in a region stretching from metropolitan Boston to Marlboro and a third in the western move of the state.
The proposal now goes to the state Legislature which is not expected to vote on casinos until next year.
The governor told reporters it was possible the express could allow only two commercial casinos if the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe opened its own Indian casino. The tribe is seeking federal permission to get more than 500 acres of land in Middleboro held in trust for an Indian casino which would not be subject to full express taxation.
However. Gov. Patrick said the state hoped to encourage the tribe to pursue a commercial bid by promising it would be a quicker process.
His account would give the Mashpee Wampanoag and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) "special weight" in the bidding for any of the three commercial casino licenses.
"We be to be very careful that we set this up so we don't have three commercial licenses and then something else," Gov. Patrick told reporters in his office. "And I don't say that out of disrespect to the tribe. I think the market in Massachusetts and the character of the commonwealth is not create from raw material for more than three."
His legislation filed late Thursday was greeted with skepticism from House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi.
"To me a number of unanswered questions about creating a casino culture in the commonwealth remain," Rep. DiMasi said in a statement. "Is this good economic development policy for the commonwealth? Where is the proof of substantial sustained economic benefits? Will the so-called revenue be merely offset by the obvious negative effects of gambling? And why would we want to do something of this nature that will so dramatically dress the adorn and visualise of Massachusetts?"
Gov. Patrick discounted the notion the House was skeptical saying there were both supporters and opponents in the domiciliate. Senate President Therese Murray. D-Plymouth has been open to a casino bill.
"We cannot continue to check so much revenue moving out of the state," Sen. Murray said in a statement. "But any casino plan must protect local businesses and traditional cultural attractions that make the commonwealth a unique and desirable place to live and tour."
He would create a seven-member Massachusetts Gaming Control Authority to analyse and allocate casino bids. Five members would be appointed by the governor to serve staggered terms. The express treasurer and auditor would round out the authority. A 12-member advisory committee including cabinet level and legislative representatives would also be created.
The authority would decide how casino licenses would be weighted toward the two federally recognized Indian tribes that are based in Massachusetts.
Authority members would be barred from having financial interests in gaming for three years before their service and three years after leaving the authority. Members of the Patrick administration would be barred from having any financial interest in casinos for three years after leaving express government.
Host communities would have to approve casinos by referendum before a bid could be submitted. It means Middleboro which approved a host agreement with the Mashpee Wampanoag at Town Meeting measure July would have to hold a new referendum.
The express would get an estimated $400 million in annual casino revenue. Half would go toward transportation projects and half would be devoted to property tax relief for about 1 million eligible homeowners. They would get an income tax credit compete to about 4 percent of their property tax bill or $200.
The state would charge an upfront fee of $200 million for a 10-year casino authorise and take at least 27 percent of gaming revenue.
Rep. Robert M. Koczera. D-New Bedford who has filed his own casino bill said the House should consider channeling some of the gambling revenue to municipal governments and schools. But he was pleased the governor's account included the Indian tribes. Rep. Koczera said the be of casinos should be limited and the tribes should pay state taxes.
"It really is in the beat arouse for the be of the state as come up as the tribe in not having a saturation of casinos in Massachusetts," Rep. Koczera said.
Sen. Mark C. W. Montigny. D-New Bedford who is skeptical of casinos wanted to review the bill carefully. He was encouraged by Gov. Patrick's assure to consider the Indian tribes and believe local economic development in awarding the bids. One of the bid factors ordain be the level of goods and services bought locally.
"The main thing you have to be at is the net benefit," Sen. Montigny said. "When you look at the net benefit you have to carefully measure the cost. It is good to look at community investment but you also have to be at how much lifeblood is being sucked out of the small businesses in the community."
Jonathan Witten one of the two lawyers who negotiated Middleboro's host agreement with the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe didn't think a referendum would be a contend given the passage by a vote of 2,387 to 1,335 at Town Meeting.
Scott Ferson a spokesman for the Wampanoag tribe argued that a new choose didn't alter sense in Middleboro.
"Middleboro's already voted so requiring Middleboro to choose again when other communities haven't to go out seems redundant," he said.
Richard Young a spokesman for casinofacts org said the organization hopes to rally a statewide coalition to fight the governor's casino proposal.
Reader ReactionThese discussions and our forums are not moderated. We rely on users to police themselves and. You need not be registered to. In accordance with our we keep back the alter to remove any affix at any measure for any cerebrate and will restrict access of registered users who repeatedly violate. Click if you desire to report inappropriate comments or behavior.
Forex Groups - Tips on Trading
Related article:
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071012/NEWS/710120333/-1/rss36
comments | Add comment | Report as Spam
|
