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March 19, 2008

Mass. lawmakers delay key vote on 3-casino proposal

BOSTON -- Lawmakers delayed a key committee vote today on Gov. Deval Patrick's three-casino proposal, the latest twist in the contentious debate over whether to expand gambling in Massachusetts.

The results of the vote by the 19-member Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies was scheduled to be released at noon today, one day after a marathon public hearing that stretched late into Tuesday night. The committee is trying to decide whether to recommend that lawmakers approve or reject Patrick's plan to build three resort-style casinos in Massachusetts.

Instead, committee co-chairman Rep. Daniel Bosley announced that the poll of committee members had to be done over because it combined Patrick's casino bill with other related gambling bills. Bosley said he was unaware that under joint committee rules, a bill from the governor has to be taken up separately.

"Basically I screwed up," Bosley said. "We have to call members back and let them know that all of the other bills we attached yesterday are going into a study."

Bosley wouldn't give the results of the initial poll. The second poll, which will focus solely on Patrick's bill, was expected by 4 p.m. Wednesday.

If the committee recommends the bill "ought not pass," it would make it much more difficult for House members to add amendments when they debate it, possibly beginning Thursday. Patrick has said he was open to amendments that might help the bill pass.

Advocates and critics of Patrick's plan were anxiously awaiting the results of the committee poll - hoping for an indication that the bill, which Patrick had all but conceded was heading for defeat in the House, may still have a chance.

House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, the chief critic of the casino bill, had been scheduled to attend an unrelated event this morning in the Statehouse, but canceled before Bosley delayed the vote. He also made an unannounced visit to the hearing last night.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 2:11 PM | Permalink

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