Published August 6, 2010

It’s a good weekend for chowing down, whether you want to toast to the beauty of the perfect root-beer float in honor of the drink’s big day or try all the New England clam chowder you could ever need (at a castle, no less). There are boats to be sailed, drums to be banged on and Shakespeare classics to be seen. So what’re you waiting for? Get out there and enjoy!

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Published August 6, 2010

Earlier this week I asked where you stand on the gambling debate, which may not be dead yet. (Radio Boston’s week-in-review roundtable takes up the topic today at 3.) Most of the discussion happened on Facebook.

Where does George Preston stand?

As close to the bar as possible.

George will be here all night, folks.

Carla Jalbert is skeptical:

I do not see an opportunity for “JOBS” – when Foxwood opened years ago there were many workers in the slot area – now with technology, automation, you hardly see any attendants.. I believe the expense of having slots there will not create jobs, and the money will be more pure profit for the race track owners!!

On that note, Carla, casino proponents — and the press — have thrown around the “15,000 jobs,” but I’m not clear where that number comes from.

Briavael O’Reilly is realistic:

As with any addiction, people are going to find ways to gamble. At least if we keep it in Mass, the state can get some of that money to put back into other programs.

…and similarly, from Michael J. Curtiss:

Being a pragmatist, I can only say that if man is going to continue to insist on the right to pursue his vices, then others ought to be able to make a living from them. Bring it on.

Oh, it’s already been broughten.

Richer Earth, in the comments:

I have been a long-time opponent of state-sanctioned gambling because the social costs can be high (been to Atlantic City lately?) and the jobs estimates tend to be inflated. Lately, however, I’ve changed my tune.

If the only way that we can raise the money to keep libraries open, teachers employed, and arts programs running is to enable fools to be parted from their money, let’s get it over with. Gambling … is a tax on stupidity and it seems it is the only tax that can garner any support.

Cynthia Knowlton is suspicious:

I’m curious about the real reasons people are anti-casino. I’ve heard, “it’s habit forming”. So is drinking, drugs, prescription medication, and smoking. I’ve heard, “it will take people away from their families due to addiction.” So do… drinking, prescription medication, and drugs. I’ve heard, “it will rip the moral fabric of the community.” So do drinking, drugs, and strip clubs. What’s the 1 constant in all those statements? Alcohol. I certainly don’t think that banning alcohol is the answer anymore than not having casinos.

Debbie Howarth wants better research:

Will these Casinos and Racinos really make money and produce jobs? Twin River in Rhode Island has been in debt and losing money for years. If we are trying to compete with Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun I think we should do the research and establish a quality venue in western Massachusetts that will pull patrons from New York and points west as well. The current plan spreads the resources thin and definitely has a sleaze factor.

We don’t want to over saturate the market and end up with these places empty or closed within 5 years!

Dale Schaetzke has another idea:

First, Scrap the lottery, we the people should not be in this business and there is no way we can label it a government service. Second, although I don’t like gambling, it should be legal. Repeal the prohibitions. If people want to put money… in a machine that keeps it, let them.

Jane Powers smells abuse:

Gambling is a BIG mistake.. They should call it what it is, a tax on poor people.

And Jeff Bowen is radical:

Definitley For it. Gambling shoud be a right of every Ameirican. We live in America after all. Land Of The Free. Remember that! I am pro- Medical Marijuana as well. If an American wants to drink, smoke or gambel they should be aloud to and not fear prosecution from the Govt. Oh, yeah and I am pro- Prostitution, the oldest profession. We can learn alot from the Netherlands. Does that make me a liberal? I am tired of the government telling people what they can and can’t do.

What do you think?

Published August 6, 2010

Good news! Massachusetts is getting a check for $665 million from the federal government (despite a “no” vote from Sen. Scott Brown). It’s called FMAP funding. And here’s why it means the embattled gambling legislation may not be dead yet.

(Dennis Redfield/Flickr)

• The FMAP is allocated to states to offset the costs of Medicaid and education. By receiving that infusion of cash, Massachusetts frees up money in the budget for other stuff. The state budget is about $23 billion, so the FMAP funding amounts to about 3 percent. (Not enough money to throw a party over, but an amount you would be really stoked to find lying on the sidewalk.)
• Lawmakers must convene to divvy up the money. But the formal legislative session ended last weekend, so the House and Senate have to figure out how to spend the money in an informal session or call everyone back for a formal session. The latter requires a two-thirds majority of each body.
• Laws can be passed in informal session, but a single lawmaker could raise an objection that kills the session. That would force lawmakers to meet in formal session.
• And if the House and Senate meet in formal sessions, some lawmakers say, casino gambling could be back on the table. One House member, speaking anonymously, told the Boston Globe the idea has been discussed in deliberations.

In interviews with WBUR today, the House and Senate minority leaders (Republicans) both say they want the gambling legislation to die. Neither of them has a lot of power on Beacon Hill, but they could prevent their colleagues from objecting to the FMAP spending. Which means the chambers could meet in informal sessions. Which means gambling would not come up for debate.

Globe reporter Michael Levenson said it best: “Like Wile E. Coyote, the gambling bill just will not die.”