Massachusetts Senate Pushing House to Speed Up on Casino Gambling

A Massachusetts lawmakers says a hearing on casino gambling in June is necessary to educate legislators on the issues before actual bills are considered in the fall.

Massachusetts lawmakers were unable to craft a bill legalizing casino gambling last year that could pass the legislature. Now, with the state feeling urgency at a sense of being behind, legislators are arguing over when to begin hearings to draft new laws allowing licensed casinos.

Representative Brian Dempsey, chairman of the state House Economic Development Committee, has announced plans to start discussing gambling in the legislative session in September. But Senator Karen Spilka, who is co-chairman of the Senate version of the committee, says that's not soon enough.

Spilka says she's going to hold a hearing on gambling expansion on June 29th. Even after Dempsey verified his position, Spilka insisted the earlier date is necessary.

“We’re going forward,” Spilka said yesterday.

Spilka says the June hearing is preliminary, designed to give legislators much-needed information so they can be fully informed when the debate begins.

“Since this is so new, I want to start gathering some information so that by the time we have the hearing, I’m knowledgeable enough,” said Spilka.

The Senator said she is willing to consider using gambling to produce more state revenue, and added the hearing would be open to the entire Senate.