Representative Don Humason



CASINO VOTE By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. March 29, 2008 Not too many people from my generation can say that they knew 2 men who were serving America in her armed forces on December 7, 1941. But I, like many of you in Westfield, am privileged. I know Bob Greenleaf, and, until his passing this week, I knew Dominic Grimaldi. Both these men were at Pearl Harbor on the “date that will live in infamy” when the empire of Japan attacked the United States in a pre-emptive declaration of war. Every year the Westfield Veterans Council holds a remembrance ceremony in the little park, formerly located by the Great River Bridge. Dominic and Bob would be the honored guests; survivors of that attack, heroes from that day and from World War II. On behalf of the Great and General Court of Massachusetts and the people of Westfield, my condolences and sympathy go out to the Grimaldi family on the loss of Dominic. It is a loss more than just that of a beloved father, husband, and grandfather. It is a loss of history, a break in the cord that connects the past with the present. They say that World War II veterans are dying at an alarming rate, and that in a couple of years none will remain. The Holyoke Soldiers Home is filled with old soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. When they are gone, who will tell their stories? Saturday, at 1PM, at North Middle School is a Vietnam Veterans Day ceremony. It is open to everyone. The public is welcome. I hope you will join me. If you see a veteran, say thanks before you go. It was a relatively quiet week on Beacon Hill this week. The House held only informal sessions and no roll call votes were taken. Some guessed that the House was “re-loading” on issues to take up, given last week’s debate on the committee report on casinos and the debate from the previous week on the Life Sciences bill. With respect to the casinos, you have to read the papers carefully to see how they reported the vote. I voted no on accepting the negative committee report which would kill the bill. So my no vote was actually a vote that would have sent the issue to the full floor of the House for open debate. In church Easter weekend folks kept coming up to me to thank me for voting against the bill, a position they supported. But I had to explain that my vote was to keep the issue alive and allow for debate. The way the Speaker structured the votes and the paper reported on the votes made it look like I voted against casinos. I'm not against casino gaming, but I'm not really a big fan either. It isn’t the panacea the state needs. I think the Governor's plan needed a lot of work. But now we won't have a chance to debate or amend it. In reality, no member of the House actually took an anti-casino vote. They just took a procedural, parliamentary vote to prevent the issue from coming to the House floor for full debate. I’ve always been for an open process and I always will be. One word of caution and warning: the Indians are seeking federal approval to open a casino in Massachusetts. If they get that permission we’ll have a casino beyond the control or regulation of the state. All the people who opposed casinos out of concern for whatever social ills they may bring will be stuck with one anyway, and the state won’t receive a dime to help gambling addicts. Much like the situation we face today with the casinos in Connecticut. Massachusetts sends thousands of people and millions of dollars a year South of our border. At the end of the day those gamblers return to the Bay State. And they bring whatever problems they have home with them. I’d like to say hello to the students from Westfield State College who traveled to the State House Thursday for State College Lobby Day. Thank you for representing our college so well. It was a good day and you did a great job. Representative Don Humason and his new aide Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us
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CASINO VOTE

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

March 29, 2008

Not too many people from my generation can say that they knew 2 men who were serving America in her armed forces on December 7, 1941. But I, like many of you in Westfield, am privileged. I know Bob Greenleaf, and, until his passing this week, I knew Dominic Grimaldi.

Both these men were at Pearl Harbor on the “date that will live in infamy” when the empire of Japan attacked the United States in a pre-emptive declaration of war.

Every year the Westfield Veterans Council holds a remembrance ceremony in the little park, formerly located by the Great River Bridge. Dominic and Bob would be the honored guests; survivors of that attack, heroes from that day and from World War II.

On behalf of the Great and General Court of Massachusetts and the people of Westfield, my condolences and sympathy go out to the Grimaldi family on the loss of Dominic. It is a loss more than just that of a beloved father, husband, and grandfather. It is a loss of history, a break in the cord that connects the past with the present.

They say that World War II veterans are dying at an alarming rate, and that in a couple of years none will remain. The Holyoke Soldiers Home is filled with old soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. When they are gone, who will tell their stories?

Saturday, at 1PM, at North Middle School is a Vietnam Veterans Day ceremony. It is open to everyone. The public is welcome. I hope you will join me. If you see a veteran, say thanks before you go.

It was a relatively quiet week on Beacon Hill this week. The House held only informal sessions and no roll call votes were taken. Some guessed that the House was “re-loading” on issues to take up, given last week’s debate on the committee report on casinos and the debate from the previous week on the Life Sciences bill.

With respect to the casinos, you have to read the papers carefully to see how they reported the vote. I voted no on accepting the negative committee report which would kill the bill. So my no vote was actually a vote that would have sent the issue to the full floor of the House for open debate.

In church Easter weekend folks kept coming up to me to thank me for voting against the bill, a position they supported. But I had to explain that my vote was to keep the issue alive and allow for debate. The way the Speaker structured the votes and the paper reported on the votes made it look like I voted against casinos.

I'm not against casino gaming, but I'm not really a big fan either. It isn’t the panacea the state needs. I think the Governor's plan needed a lot of work. But now we won't have a chance to debate or amend it.

In reality, no member of the House actually took an anti-casino vote. They just took a procedural, parliamentary vote to prevent the issue from coming to the House floor for full debate. I’ve always been for an open process and I always will be.

One word of caution and warning: the Indians are seeking federal approval to open a casino in Massachusetts. If they get that permission we’ll have a casino beyond the control or regulation of the state. All the people who opposed casinos out of concern for whatever social ills they may bring will be stuck with one anyway, and the state won’t receive a dime to help gambling addicts.

Much like the situation we face today with the casinos in Connecticut. Massachusetts sends thousands of people and millions of dollars a year South of our border. At the end of the day those gamblers return to the Bay State. And they bring whatever problems they have home with them.

I’d like to say hello to the students from Westfield State College who traveled to the State House Thursday for State College Lobby Day. Thank you for representing our college so well. It was a good day and you did a great job.

Representative Don Humason and his new aide Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group