House Speaker Sal DiMasi presented a letter to House members, concerning the forthcoming casino plans. In the letter, he said "Do we want to usher in a casino culture – with rampant bankruptcies, crime, and social ills – or do we want to create a better Massachusetts for all sectors of the society?"
DiMasi has been a strong opponent of the casino proposals made by Gov. Deval Patrick. The proposals would allow the licensing of three new casinos in the region, and DiMasi believes that the projected revenues presented by Patrick are 'significantly exaggerated'.
Gov. Patrick believes that the building of the three casinos in Massachusetts would create 30,000 construction jobs, and that billions of fresh dollars would be brought in to the area once the three state-licensed casino resorts were opened.
State leaders are torn on the proposal - "People in the business community are essentially agnostic on the issue of gambling, but very gung-ho on legitimate ways to generate revenue for the Commonwealth and also to generate jobs," said Ralph C. Martin II, chairman of the chamber, which will be meeting next month to decide whether to take a position on casinos for the first time. "And if this turns out to be a net positive, people will be receptive to it."
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