I hate to say I told you so, but...........

For the past several days I have written that we are all being taken for a ride by the House and Senate leadership, and the Governor himself, concerning the contrived controversy related to the passage of a Gaming Bill for Massachusetts. Truly, this has been the theater of the absurd to make each party to the agreement look less "guilty" prior to the upcoming election this fall. They get the benefit of saying they voted in favor of increased funds, especially Local Aid, for Cities and Towns while decrying the known and expected negative impacts with which legalized gambling is associated . They will hit the campaign trail and will talk about the difficult moral decision, between jobs for citizens and the expected increases in addictions and crimes that gambling brings. Oh my, so difficult indeed. HA! They did as they were told. We all know this, so let's stop this charade!

This morning I called into WSAR and voiced the very things I have been writing about related to this horrendous display of bad acting  going on  at our state legislature.  I was asked by Cathy Viverios if I thought the legislature would finish the Gaming Bill on time or should they stay and extend the session. I said passage was guaranteed, that the leadership probably already had reservations down on Cape Cod or  elsewhere for family vacations and would not break their plans prior to electioneering for what were, for the most members, easy reelection campaigns for the fall, hence everything would get done on time.

A few minutes later I was sent a notice from a friend that stated there was tentative agreement between the House and Senate. So I called WSAR back with the information just after 11:30 A.M. When appraised of the situation, Cathy Ann Viverios and George Colajazzi asked when I thought there would be a final announcement of a formal agreement. I said it would make sense to have it announced around 5:30 to 6:oo P.M. for inclusion in television news programs.

Well..............

Haddad at 5 p.m. says casino compromise
 reached; details coming at 6 p.m

By Will Richmond and Associated Press
GateHouse News Service
Posted Jul 30, 2010 @ 11:16 AM
Last update Jul 30, 2010 @ 05:04 PM


5 p.m. Haddad: Casino compromise reached; details at 6 p.m


BOSTON — State Rep. Patricia Haddad said an agreement has been reached on a casino package and a press conference has been called for 6 p.m.

Haddad said details of the agreement were not immediately available. Reports have indicated the compromised package will allow for three resort-style casinos and slot parlors at two of the state's four race tracks.

3:45 p.m. Haddad says casino deal imminent


BOSTON - State Rep. Patricia Haddad, D-Somerset, said an agreement on a casino bill is “imminent.”

“It’s really imminent, we’re very aware of the 8 p.m. deadline,” Haddad, the House’s assistant majority whip, said in a phone interview with The Herald News at 3:30 p.m.


The bill must be filed by 8 p.m. in order to allow the House and Senate to debate and vote on before the end of the legislative session at midnight Saturday.

She said a 2/3 procedural vote could extend the 8 p.m. deadline and that the votes likely exist to do so. However, she said “I don’t think anyone wants to cut it that close.”

“The conference committee is working very hard on this and is close to a resolution,” Haddad said. “I’m very optimistic something will get done.”

Haddad declined to comment on any details of the bill, though reports have indicated the committee is considering a package that would license three resort-style casinos and two slot parlors at racetracks.


“I hesitate to do that (release details) because anytime you think something’s solid, until it’s on paper I just hesitate,” Haddad said.

What should trouble you about all of this is that the entire enterprise of this Gaming Bill and the Casino project appears, from start to finish, to have been WIRED. Also, for it to be so predictable is a sham and a shame. I do have my sources at the State House, that should be obvious. My only advice to those of you who are concerned about the impacts of this bill in Fall River is to try to find out how many employees of the Fall River casino ( and I am CERTAIN one will be sited here) are relatives of Fall River elected officials or members of the FROED Board of Directors,  family of the Chamber of Commerce members, or family members of the Redevelopment Authority. Certainly, it will also be very useful to see which of our local banks and financial institutions will be utilized to provide short and long term construction financing and operating capital. This way, you will have leverage to use once the rates of violent crime, drug addiction, prostitution and gambling addicitons skyrocket after the facility opens.

 God save Fall River.