Patrick still against track slots

Patrick still against track slots


Governor, at campaign cookout, says veto talk premature
ATTLEBORO - Gov. Deval Patrick reiterated his opposition to slot machines at racetracks Saturday, but stopped short of issuing a veto threat during a campaign appearance in Attleboro.

Patrick repeated his position of supporting legislation to legalize casinos, saying they create more jobs and higher paying jobs than slot machines at racetracks.

The governor said that despite the current hard times Massachusetts is excelling across a broad range of fronts and its economy is turning around.

He also said: The Federal Reserve has found that Massachusetts is recovering faster from the recession than 48 other states.

Massachusetts' fourth- and eighth-graders have scored first in national assessment tests in math and English three years in a row.

The state's bond rating is AA, one of the highest in the nation.

There has been an unprecedented investment in road, bridge, school and college construction over the past two years.

The Legislature has passed landmark ethics, pension and transportation reform.