On Monday, Kathi-Anne Reinstein, a Revere Democrat who organized the SECRET CLOSED DOOR briefing, told the News Service the session was closed TO THE PUBLIC so state reps would "feel comfortable to ask any questions without having any type of criticism'' and surely at the request of gambling interests who can make undisputed wild promises that are unsubstantiated and never be held accountable.
.
On Tuesday, the House proved that predatory gambling lobbyists haven't wasted their money when a voice vote approved a bill that NEVER had a PUBLIC hearing or maybe Monday's meeting was considered a "hearing" that just excluded the public.
.
Why shouldn't constituents be informed about the votes of the Representatives?
.
This is how it begins.
.
This is according to the Predatory Gambling Playbook - prevent public discussion, at all costs!
.
Six Degrees of Suffolk Downs describes the June 2009 Casino Love Fest filled with lobbyists and promoters that excluded public comments.
.
RAYNHAM —
A bill that would allow simulcasting to continue at Massachusetts racetracks after a ban on live greyhound racing goes into effect
passed the House on a voice vote Tuesday.
If passed by the Senate and signed into law, the bill could throw a lifeline to Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park by essentially converting it into a betting parlor in the short term. The bill would permit simulcasting — which allows track patrons to place wagers on races held at other tracks and watch the contests on closed-circuit television — to continue at each of the four racetracks in
Massachusetts until July 31, even on days when there are no live races held locally.
A ban on dog racing in Massachusetts will go into effect Jan. 1 after it was approved by voters in last year’s state election.
“It’s an important step in preventing lights out at the track and the loss of jobs and revenue,” state Rep. David Flynn said following the vote. “It’s a major step toward eventually getting slots at Raynham.”
Flynn, D-Bridgewater, and state Rep. James Fagan, D-Taunton, co-sponsored the legislation. Both have said the bill could serve as a stop gap measure to keep Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park open until some sort of expanded gambling legislation is passed.
In the Senate, state Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton, sponsored a similar bill, but his also sought to delay the ban on dog racing.
Track owner George Carney has long expressed an interest in converting his Raynham facility into a slot machines parlor, and area lawmakers have pushed on Beacon Hill for the legalization of slot machines.
Among supporters of expanded gaming, there are differences of opinion on whether it would be best to support slot machines or full-scale resort casinos. There is also a sizable contingent that is opposed to any form of expanded gambling. Flynn doesn’t expect the Legislature to hold any hearings on expanded gaming until January at the earliest. A vote, he predicted, could come by February.
“This helps all four tracks,” Flynn said. “Without it, all simulcasting would end at the close of live greyhound racing.”
Flynn expects the simulcasting extension to pass the Senate without much objection. The vote could take place as soon as Tuesday, he said.
.
The best Democracy gambling interests can buy!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment