Inside track?
Doubtful, but an interesting buried tidbit nonetheless: After getting a grilling on Chapter 70 funding from Abington selectmen, a freshman rep predicted lawmakers are leaning towards approving expanded gambling:
[Rep. Allen] McCarthy offered hope to the board, assuring selectmen the construction of a new casino in Middleboro would bring new revenue to the state, which would likely increase state-aid. State officials would first have to allow casino facilities, and if they do so, hopefully allow slot machines, McCarthy said, the most profitable form of gambling.
“It seems to be they’re leaning towards approving it,” McCarthy said.
On the other side, Rep. George Peterson, the assistant minority leader in the House, told his Westborough selectmen quite the opposite.
But that’s not all. Another slow news day brings more chatter over casinos.
Lawmakers pushing for a casino-rail link. The Boston Phoenix piece, a must-read for anyone keeping track (or trying to catch up) on the issue. The mayor of Chicopee collecting enough signatures for a petition for his board of aldermen to reconsider their rejection of a non-binding casino question for voters. Former John Hancock CEO weighing in on the topic in a Globe op-ed piece.
And that’s just a cursory trip through Google News. Next week is shaping up to be another slow one, meaning more heated speculation and conjecture on casinos.
Well, either that or deep, deep discussions on Chapter 70. Those Abington selectmen may be ahead of the curve on that.