Montigny hasn't decided whether he'd challenge renegotiated casino compact
Sen. Mark Montigny, who attempted to block legislative approval of the casino agreement between the state and the Mashpee Wampanoag during the summer, hasn't decided whether he will try similar parliamentary maneuvering if a revised compact is resubmitted for legislative approval later this year.
“I don't believe they should try to refile this in informal session. I think it would be a violation of the spirit if not the letter of those rules,” the New Bedford Democrat said.
But, if it happens, “what the strategy would be is undetermined,” he said.
Gov. Deval Patrick and the tribe hammered out the agreement that would allow the Mashpee to operate a sovereign casino in Taunton. Montigny twice blocked Senate votes on the compact, but it eventually gained overwhelming approval of both houses, although the only SouthCoast legislators to endorse it were Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton, and Rep. Paul Schmid, D-Westport.
Clueless!
Last week, the federal Department of Interior rejected the compact because, among other issues, it would have required the tribe to pay the state 21.5 percent of gaming revenue, a price the department considered too steep. Commercial casinos will pay 25 percent of gaming revenues to the state.
Patrick and the tribe have said they plan to renegotiate the agreement and resubmit it to the Legislature, which has wrapped up formal sessions for this year. While the Legislature could vote to convene in formal session, the objection of any single legislator would block that action.
“We gave a great deal to the Wampaonoag and even that has been rejected,” Montigny said. “So if you believe, as I don't, by the way, that this is sound economic strategy and great revenue enhancement for the commonwealth, then you've just had that myth debunked because the federal government is saying that in order to provide this deal you'd have to tax them far less than the commercial.
“What I think they should do is look at the strategy from the beginning, where they attempted to please everyone and it has not proceeded well,” he said.
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