Baker Batters Patrick Over Casino Bill

Charlie Baker thinks the impasse over legislation to approve casino gambling in the state is symptomatic of a dysfunctional Beacon Hill and a lack of leadership from the governor.

Baker, the Republican challenger to Gov. Deval Patrick and a Swampscott resident, has used the casino issue as a cudgel in recent weeks, criticizing the governor for what he says is a case of misplaced priorities.

Patrick last week refused to sign a casino bill approved by the state legislature, which called for three resort casinos and two slots parlors, which would be reserved for bidding by the state's racetracks.

The legislature may come back into a special session this summer to approve federal funding for education, and could take up the casino bill again, but the deadlock on the bill likely means the issue won't be resolved this year. 

"It's a pretty tough row to hoe," said Rick Gorka, a spokesman for the Baker campaign. "They're trying to save face. It's misplaced priorities."

Gorka said the governor's proposal to allow three resort casinos in the state is moving too fast and "a bit foolish."

Baker prefers allowing just one resort casino and a limited number of slots, perhaps 2,000, with open bidding for the slots, Gorka said.

Patrick also prefers open bidding for any slots.

In a press release issued after the governor effectively vetoed the legislation, Baker said Patrick showed a lack of leadership, although Gorka said Baker also would have vetoed the legislation.

"Governor Patrick has been a completely ineffective leader and this is the latest proof that it's time for new leadership," Baker said.

Independent candidate for governor, Tim Cahill, also piled on the governor last week, saying in a statement that Patrick should have approved the legislature's bill. 

Green-Rainbow Party candidate Jill Stein has said she opposes expanding gambling.

For his part, Patrick has laid the blame for the casino bill's failure squarely at the feet of the legislature.

After returning the bill to lawmakers with an amendment stripping away racetrack slots, Patrick called on the legislature to approve it.

"I call on the legislature to accept the amendment promptly so that we can provide the good jobs at better wages and benefits that we all agree are available in destination resort casinos,'' Patrick said in a statement. "Had they done so two years ago, when I first proposed it, thousands of workers in the building trades and in other fields would be working today.''

Marblehead Rep. Ehrlich: It's about 'jobs and revenue'

Marblehead's state representative in the legislature, Democrat Lori Ehrlich, said she voted in favor of the compromise plan including casinos and slots because of a "desperate need for jobs and growth."

Ehrlich voted against an earlier casino bill in 2008, mainly because of concerns over the impact of a casino at Suffolk Downs in East Boston on traffic along Route 1A.

This time, the casino bill contained a requirement that the casino developer put up 10 percent of infrastructure costs and comply with a traffic mitigation plan before opening the casino.

With those concerns alleviated, Ehrlich said she voted for the plan as a way to create jobs and bring revenue into the state treasury during a time of fiscal crisis.

"I see it as a vote for economic development at a time we need jobs and revenue," Ehrlich said. 

Ehrlich's opponent in the fall election, Dr. Kate Kozitza of Swampscott, agrees that casinos could help boost the North Shore economy, although she said "casinos are no panacea," for what ails the state.

"The recent failure of the casino bill falls largely at the feet of the House," Kozitza said in a statement. "If not for the focus (on slots) by Speaker (Robert) DeLeo and others, like my opponent, who march in lockstep with the Speaker, we would have the way paved for resort-style casinos in Massachusetts."

Not everyone agrees that casinos would benefit the state.

Barbara Anderson, a Marblehead resident and executive director of Citizens for Limited Taxation, said legalized gambling would create social problems and contribute to government corruption.

"Why invite another level of dysfunction to Massachusetts government?" Anderson said. "If it's a revenue producer, they're just going to waste it. It's better not to do it."