Reform? Where is it?

November 2008, Massachusetts voters supported a ballot question to eliminate greyhound racing in the state, effectively closing Wonderland Greyhound Racetrack in Revere and the Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park. The vote was supported statewide by 55% of voters.

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Senator Pacheco (D, Taunton) introduced legislation --
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The plan would have allowed the tracks to add 2,500 slot machines each, which could have brought in new revenue to help cities and towns offset cuts to local aid.

"You have a local aid vote before you right now," said Senator Marc Pacheco, a Taunton Democrat and chief proponent of the proposal. "Here it is."
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Insert Big sigh!
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This isn't simple!

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Kudos to the Senate that at least wisdom prevailed .......... for now!
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Rosenberg has .... said it would take at least 12 months from the time a law was signed before the state would start reaping any revenue from slot machines.

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Rosenberg's words seem to convey that there is no reason for haste and last minute efforts to push through legislation. That also means, predatory gambling is no solution to this year's budget crisis.

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Legislators, including Senator Pacheco need to listen.

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At the Governor's Forum on Monday, which Senator Pacheco attended, voters offered suggestions.

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Senator, I think you may not have heard some of what was said because your mind is already made up.

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When I spoke up, I explained that Twin River in Rhode Island had defaulted and is on the verge of bankruptcy. Some speculate that it is a ploy on their part to increase hours and reduce their tax commitment, but that's not my place to speculate. (They are the investors who have a contract with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe to develop a Mega Casino in Middleboro.)

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The State of Indiana, in an effort to save their dead race tracks, supported slot machines at the tracks and then bailed out the racinos.

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Some might say Time For A Natural Death.

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Senator, you indicated that the problem with Twin River was the economic downturn.

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Is Raynham somehow immune from that downturn?

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Senator, It's time for legislators to do the difficult work of reinventing government, streamlining the process, eliminating duplication and overlap and correcting the mistakes. It's not time to toss out flawed solutions, like Fool's Gold.

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