HOUSE APPROVES CASINO COMPACT 120-32

 

STATE CAPITOL BRIEFS – WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 2012
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

HOUSE APPROVES CASINO COMPACT 120-32

 The House at 5 p.m. Wednesday voted 120-32 to approve casino compact legislation intended to facilitate a tribal casino in Taunton. Based on negotiations between Gov. Deval Patrick and the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, the resolve now moves to the Senate, which has a formal session planned Thursday afternoon. House Speaker Pro Tem Patricia Haddad said Taunton residents, who she represents, want a casino and the jobs that will come with it. "The Mashpees have been around forever," said Haddad. While Haddad questioned lawmakers who doubt the tribe's ability to eventually build a casino, Rep. Robert Koczera of New Bedford opposed the compact, saying it "fails to address the most con...tentious issue facing the tribe" - getting tribal land placed in trust by the federal government. "Who knows how long it's going to be tied up," added Rep. Antonio Cabral of New Bedford. Without a deadline for land in trust proceedings, the compact is "too open-ended" to service the policy interests of the November 2011 law authorizing up to three casinos in Massachusetts, Koczera said. Taunton Rep. Shaunna O'Connell supported the compact, calling it a "generous and lucrative deal for this state." The compact includes $7 million per year in mitigation for surrounding communities, O'Connell said, adding that the gaming commission will decide, if necessary, to make a commercial license available in southeastern Massachusetts if land in trust talks appear to be faltering. Just prior to the vote, Rep. William Straus said the compact resolve may modify the state’s 2011 casino law, which he said could become a legal issue before the courts. M. Norton/SHNS

The House at 5 p.m. Wednesday voted 120-32 to approve casino compact legislation intended to facilitate a tribal casino in Taunton.

 

 Based on negotiations between Gov. Deval Patrick and the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, the resolve now moves to the Senate, which has a formal session planned Thursday afternoon. House Speaker Pro Tem Patricia Haddad said Taunton residents, who she represents, want a casino and the jobs that will come with it. "The Mashpees have been around forever," said Haddad.

 

While Haddad questioned lawmakers who doubt the tribe's ability to eventually build a casino, Rep. Robert Koczera of New Bedford opposed the compact, saying it "fails to address the most con...tentious issue facing the tribe" - getting tribal land placed in trust by the federal government. "Who knows how long it's going to be tied up," added Rep. Antonio Cabral of New Bedford. Without a deadline for land in trust proceedings, the compact is "too open-ended" to service the policy interests of the November 2011 law authorizing up to three casinos in Massachusetts, Koczera said.

 

  Taunton Rep. Shaunna O'Connell supported the compact, calling it a "generous and lucrative deal for this state." 

 

The compact includes $7 million per year in mitigation for surrounding communities, O'Connell said, adding that the gaming commission will decide, if necessary, to make a commercial license available in southeastern Massachusetts if land in trust talks appear to be faltering. Just prior to the vote, Rep. William Straus said the compact resolve may modify the state’s 2011 casino law, which he said could become a legal issue before the courts.

 

M. Norton/SHNS