Faneuil Hall

Thanks for sponsoring and supporting such a great forum that was well attended on a cold night! What an appropriate venue!

Khazei, Dukakis, Harshbarger on anti-casino panel tonight at Faneuil Hall

As state legislators are warming up to plans to expand casino gambling in the Bay State, a group of high-profile opponents will make their case against slots and casinos tonight at Faneuil Hall.

Former Gov. Michael Dukakis, his wife, Kitty, and former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger will be among the panelists at a forum sponsored by United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts, said organizer Kathleen Conley Norbut.

City Year co-founder and former U.S. Senate candidate Alan Khazei will serve as master of ceremonies at the event.

“I think it’s a lousy way to raise the revenue we need for important services and it means a 100,000 new gambling addicts in the state,” Dukakis said this morning. “This gold mine of revenue just isn’t there.”

Dukakis proposed lawmakers repeal some of the 40 tax cuts introduced after he left office to raise the $1.7 billion that the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center says will be forfeited this year because of tax incentives.

He added the state has to stop the cycle of cutting taxes during boom times in favor of banking the surplus revenue for rainy-day funds and the state pension system in preparation for leaner times to come.

“We cut taxes at the height of the boom and then when the recession comes, all the states go to Washington with a tin cup and say ‘Hey, we need help,’ ” Dukakis said.

He also warned casinos will cut into state lottery revenues that go to cities and towns.

Legislators under the leadership of former House Speaker Sal DiMasi shot down Gov. Deval Patrick’s push to build three resort casinos in 2008. House Speaker Robert DeLeo is more open to casino gambling and Senate President Therese Murray has said expanded gambling is likely “inevitable.”

Patrick met with casino gambling opponents on Monday.

“Slots and casinos cannibalize other businesses and local economies,” said Norbut, a former Monson selectwoman. The small western Massachusetts town borders Palmer and Warren, which have been eyed by developers for resort casinos.

Norbut said the economic recession is shining harsh light on the pitfalls of expanded gambling.

“This is the worst time when people don’t have discretionary income and further fewer of us have the appetite for corporate government subsidies (for casinos),” she said.

Khazei, who finished third in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Edward M. Kennedy, made his opposition to casino gambling an issue during the campaign. His spokesman did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Harshbarger also could not be immediately reached.