Column: Walk away from gaming in Massachusetts

Thursday, September 6, 2007  

"If Governor Deval Patrick is still unsure about casino gambling, he should follow that wise instinct and walk away from it now.

Why take two more weeks to ponder the issue? The arguments for and against aren't new. The governor had plenty of time to study them during his lengthy vacation in the Berkshires.

The push for expanded gambling in Massachusetts comes from racetrack operators, out-of-state promoters, and other gambling interests. If they haven't made their case yet, that should tell Patrick something important. It's a shaky case for everyone but them.

The governor's spokesman said no specific event changed Patrick's timetable for making up his mind. Unfortunately, the delay in executive decision-making makes it look like Patrick is weighing the politics, pro and con, instead of the policy, pro and con. It also looks like he is giving the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe time to get past the recent resignation of disgraced tribal chairman Glenn Marshall.

Marshall stepped down after the Cape Cod Times reported that he had been convicted of rape in 1981 and lied about his military record. The deposed tribal leader was key to negotiating the Wampanoag agreement to build a resort casino in Middleborough. That, too, should tell Patrick something about the ethics of gambling's biggest promoters."

Get the Story:
Joan Vennochi: Place your bet, governor (The Boston Globe 9/5)

Other Views:
Editorial: What’s the rush? Governor should move slowly on casino issue (The Worcester Telegram 9/5)
Betty Atkins: Tribe intoxicated by thought of financial security (The New Bedford Standard-Times 9/5)