Massachusetts Governor Urges Resurrection Of Casino Bill

Massachusetts lawmakers are being urged to take up an emergency session to resurrect the stalled gambling bill that could provide the state will several thousand jobs and a much needed source of revenue.

“The Legislature should come back and finish this right now and let’s get it done,” Governor Deval Patrick said during yesterdays annual Labor Day breakfast for state politicians and union leaders.

However a spokesman for Senate President Therese Murray said that the Senate is unlikely to return early to readdress a bill that had been shot down by the governor.

“Nothing’s changed,” said spokesman Dave Falcone. “We don’t have the votes to come back into session.”

Before the session ended in July, the House and Senate reached a compromise on the bill that would allow for three resort casinos and two racinos to be developed in the state, however the governor who has taken a stance against slot machines at the racetracks returned the bill to Legislatures to be re-worked.