No Vote Scheduled Yet
With little more than two weeks remaining in the 2005 Massachusetts state legislative session, no vote has been scheduled in the House on the slots bill passed by the Senate in early October. Supporters of the bill say more than 90 House lawmakers are ready to vote yes on the measure, but House leaders, including gambling opponent representative Dan Bosley, have left them guessing when the matter might be taken up, and House speaker Sal DiMasi is still mum on where he stands on the issue. A spokeswoman for the speaker told the Boston Herald that, “At this point, I don’t think he has made up his mind … And I don’t think we have a timetable.” The bill could be introduced next January. There’s just one problem with that — the slots measure has been tied to a simulcasting bill that must be passed this fall for the state’s four racetracks to remain open.
