Gambling Bill Passed out of Committee, Slated for September Debate
On Monday, the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies voted unanimously in support of HB 3697, which would authorize three resort-style casinos and one competitively bid slot facility in Massachusetts. The committee’s 16-0 vote to report the bill out of committee favorably came less than a week after the bill was filed. Four members abstained from the vote: Sen. Karen Spilka (D-Ashland), the co-chair of the committee; the two House Republicans on the committee, Rep. Paul Frost (R-Auburn) and Rep. Kevin Kuros (R-Uxbridge); and Sen. Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge). The bill will now be taken up by the House Committee on Ways and Means, which will likely make changes to the bill before sending it to the House floor for debate.
House Speaker Robert DeLeo (D- Winthrop) announced on Monday that the House will likely take up the gambling legislation during the week of Sept. 12. With House debate scheduled for early September, the bill could make its way to Senate by mid-October. In anticipation of the gambling debate, the Senate adopted an order last month requiring that members have at least 10 days to review the version of the bill that emerges from the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Gov. Patrick’s Supplemental Budget Sent to House Ways and Means
The $460 million supplemental budget that Gov. Patrick’s filed in the House last week was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on Wednesday. The Committee will review the details and make any changes before sending it to the full Legislature. The budget proposal, which is funded by surplus funds from FY2011, allocates $300 million to the state’s “rainy day” account and the remainder to social safety net programs, workforce development programs, and relief for communities impacted by the June tornadoes. With the infusion of $300 million, the state’s stabilization account will total $1.07 billion, the highest balance in the fund since 2008.
Senator Tolman to Step Down; Rep. Brownsberger Announces Candidacy for Seat
State Senator Steven Tolman (D-Brighton), who currently serves as Assistant Majority Leader, confirmed his plans to resign from the Senate if he is elected President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, the state’s most prominent labor group. Sen. Tolman has represented the Second Suffolk and Middlesex district, comprised of portions of Allston, Brighton, the South End and Back Bay as well as Belmont, Watertown and parts of Cambridge, since 1999. The prospects of Sen. Tolman’s departure from the Senate became a near certainty this week when the only other candidate in the AFL-CIO election, Tim Sullivan (current Legislative and Communications director at the MA AFL-CIO) dropped out of the race. The AFL-CIO election is scheduled for Oct. 7.
State Representative William Brownsberger (D-Belmont), who is currently serving his third-term in the House, also announced this week that he intends to run for the Senate seat if and when Steven Tolman leaves. Rep. Brownsberger currently serves as a member of the House bonding committee, the House House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change, and the Joint Committee on Public Service.
Other representatives in Tolman’s district include Rep. Michael Moran (D-Brighton), Rep. Kevin Honan (D-Brighton), Rep. Jonathan Hecht (D-Watertown) and Rep. John Lawn (D-Watertown).
Gas Prices Decrease for Fourth Straight Week
Massachusetts gas prices dipped again this week, marking the fourth week in a row. At The $3.61 per gallon, the cost of gas in Massachusetts matched the national average but remained 98-cents-per-gallon higher than the same week a year earlier.
John Nunnari, Assoc AIA
Executive Director, AIA MA
jnunnari@architects.org
617-951-1433 x263
617-951-0845 (fax)
MA Chapter of American Institute of Architects
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52 Broad Street, Boston MA 02109-4301
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