Week Ending August 6, 2010
After much contentious debate in the Legislature, and attempts at reaching a compromise between the House, Senate and Governor on the number of resort casinos and slot facilities to be licensed under an expanded gambling bill, the Legislature sent Governor Patrick an expanded gambling bill in the final hour of legislative sessions on Saturday that called for three resort-style casinos and two slot facilities, with the licenses for the two slot facilities limited to bidding by Massachusetts’s two racetracks and two former dog tracks. The bill passed the House by a vote of 115-36 and the Senate with a vote of 25-15. Supporters of the bill said it would generate 15,000 jobs and roughly $400 million for the Massachusetts economy. The final Senate tally was two votes short of the 2/3 majority needed to override any potential gubernatorial veto.
The Governor, who has maintained his opposition to slot machine parlors throughout the expanded gaming debate, said on Thursday of last week that he would compromise with the Legislature and support one slot parlor contingent on the Legislature passing a number of his other legislative priorities. When the final bill from the Legislature allowed for two slot facilities, Governor Patrick almost immediately signaled his opposition. On Monday the Governor sent the bill back to the Legislature with an amendment that would not allow for any slot facilities. Since the Legislature had ended formal sessions at midnight on Saturday, they are unable to take the necessary procedural steps to accept the Governor’s amendment, or further amend the bill, so the bill remains in limbo – with no parts of it going into law. In order to do so, the Legislature will need to convene a special legislative session. The prospect of this happening is slim as Senate President Murray has already said she does not think she has the necessary 2/3 vote to take up business in a special session.
In addition to the gambling bill, the House and Senate sent the Governor a CORI reform bill, an economic development bill and a health care reform bill designed to ease small business health insurance premiums. The criminal record information systems legislation restricts public access to criminal record files and grants certain drug offenders parole eligibility before serving mandatory minimums. The economic development legislation establishes a sales tax holiday in August, consolidates economic development agencies and sets up tax breaks for startup businesses. The Governor signed the economic development bill yesterday and is scheduled to sign the CORI bill today.
The U.S. Senate this week passed a state aid bill that would authorize one-time Medicare reimbursement funds to states for six months and provide additional stimulus funding to states. Under this bill, Massachusetts would receive $655 million in Medicaid funding and $205 million in education funding. In clearing the Senate 61-38, the bill received support from two Republicans, the two Senators from Maine, Susan Collins and Olympia Snow. The bill is expected to be taken up by the US House of Representatives as early as next week. In order for Massachusetts to take advantage of these funds, the Legislature will have to pass a supplemental budget. At this point, legislative leaders are unsure if that action will require a roll call vote; thus, necessitating convening a special legislative session. If this is the case, the opportunity for revisiting the expanded gaming bill and the Governor’s amendment may exist.
John Nunnari, Assoc AIA
BSA/AIA MA Public Policy Director
jnunnari@architects.org
617-951-1433 x263
617-951-0845 (fax)
Boston Society of Architects/AIA
The Architects Building
52 Broad Street, Boston MA 02109-4301
www.architects.org
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