Representative Don Humason



EXPANDED GAMING October 24, 2009 By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. This week was a rather slow one at the State House. News recently that the Commonwealth faces a $600 million shortfall in our $27 billion state budget, only four months into Fiscal Year 2010, has put a freeze on much of the major legislation, until legislative leaders and the Governor can decide what to do. According to a news blurb in the State House News Service, both the House of Representatives and state Senate have been holding light sessions where little substantive legislation is seeing any action. Aside from local bills, such as special liquor license bills, not much is moving. Senator Mike Knapik and I have one of those special liquor license bills, for the benefit of a Westfield business and the downtown, so I am glad that at least those bills are proceeding. But not much has been released from the committees for legislators to take up and debate on the floor of our respective chambers. Philosophically, I am of the opinion that the less the Massachusetts legislature is in session, and the fewer laws we pass, the better off our citizens and constituents generally are. I have been critical in the past that state government has been out of touch with the needs of Bay State citizens. As the unemployment rate in Massachusetts rises to nearly 10% and people and businesses flee the state, the Governor and the Majority Party rammed through a sales tax increase, a meals tax increase, a liquor tax increase, and a hotel tax increase. Then policy makers have the gall to ask why fewer businesses are moving into this state and why the businesses that are still clinging to life here seem to be failing. And where are the jobs, they ask? As I wrote in my column last week, “Until we can staunch the flow of jobs and people from Massachusetts, and reign in our taxing and spending, and finally gain control over the Massachusetts budget and right the foundering Bay State economy, just passing bills on Beacon Hill seems akin to rearranging the proverbial deck chairs of the Titanic.” Some people put a lot of stock in the hope for new casinos in Massachusetts as a way of helping the economy and creating jobs and more tourism in the Bay State. Opinions are mixed and everyone seems to have one. Casinos are controversial, and, as recent history has shown, they aren’t recession-proof. Personally, I work too hard for my money to do a lot of gambling. I rarely play the state lottery or buy lottery tickets except for gifts. I have only been to Foxwoods and Mohican Sun once, and it was on the same day nearly 10 years ago. I have gone to Las Vegas, which I enjoy very much, but more for the food, shows, architecture, and sites than the gambling. That being said, while I am not a strong backer of casinos in Massachusetts neither am I an outspoken opponent. I know plenty of people who go to Connecticut or Nevada and gamble recreationally and responsibly. They take responsibility for themselves, as they should. I know that new casinos in the Commonwealth will not be a panacea to our current problems, but they might stem the tide of Bay Staters who spend their gaming dollars outside of our state. Furthermore, I see expanded gaming as inevitable in our state primarily because the Governor, Speaker of the House, and Senate President have all indicated their support. I have fought in the political arena against all three and know from practical experience that it is difficult to defeat them even when they are wrong on an issue. So I will reserve my rights to support or oppose expanded gaming in Massachusetts until I have a better picture of what the legislation would say and how it would impact Western Massachusetts. I am not a member of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, but that committee is holding a public hearing at the State House next Thursday, October 29, 2009, in Gardner Auditorium starting at 10AM. The committee will hear public testimony on a plethora of bills dealing with expanded gaming: resort casinos, racinos, greyhound and horse racing track issues, video lottery terminals, and Indian gaming. You are welcome to go to the State House if you would like to testify in person, or feel free to submit written testimony addressed to the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, State House, Boston, MA 02133. Have a good week. *** Representative Don Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us Website: www.donhumason.org
This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group

EXPANDED GAMING

October 24, 2009

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

This week was a rather slow one at the State House.

News recently that the Commonwealth faces a $600 million shortfall in our $27 billion state budget, only four months into Fiscal Year 2010, has put a freeze on much of the major legislation, until legislative leaders and the Governor can decide what to do.

According to a news blurb in the State House News Service, both the House of Representatives and state Senate have been holding light sessions where little substantive legislation is seeing any action. Aside from local bills, such as special liquor license bills, not much is moving.

Senator Mike Knapik and I have one of those special liquor license bills, for the benefit of a Westfield business and the downtown, so I am glad that at least those bills are proceeding. But not much has been released from the committees for legislators to take up and debate on the floor of our respective chambers.

Philosophically, I am of the opinion that the less the Massachusetts legislature is in session, and the fewer laws we pass, the better off our citizens and constituents generally are. I have been critical in the past that state government has been out of touch with the needs of Bay State citizens.

As the unemployment rate in Massachusetts rises to nearly 10% and people and businesses flee the state, the Governor and the Majority Party rammed through a sales tax increase, a meals tax increase, a liquor tax increase, and a hotel tax increase. Then policy makers have the gall to ask why fewer businesses are moving into this state and why the businesses that are still clinging to life here seem to be failing. And where are the jobs, they ask?

As I wrote in my column last week, “Until we can staunch the flow of jobs and people from Massachusetts, and reign in our taxing and spending, and finally gain control over the Massachusetts budget and right the foundering Bay State economy, just passing bills on Beacon Hill seems akin to rearranging the proverbial deck chairs of the Titanic.”

Some people put a lot of stock in the hope for new casinos in Massachusetts as a way of helping the economy and creating jobs and more tourism in the Bay State. Opinions are mixed and everyone seems to have one. Casinos are controversial, and, as recent history has shown, they aren’t recession-proof.

Personally, I work too hard for my money to do a lot of gambling. I rarely play the state lottery or buy lottery tickets except for gifts. I have only been to Foxwoods and Mohican Sun once, and it was on the same day nearly 10 years ago. I have gone to Las Vegas, which I enjoy very much, but more for the food, shows, architecture, and sites than the gambling.

That being said, while I am not a strong backer of casinos in Massachusetts neither am I an outspoken opponent. I know plenty of people who go to Connecticut or Nevada and gamble recreationally and responsibly. They take responsibility for themselves, as they should. I know that new casinos in the Commonwealth will not be a panacea to our current problems, but they might stem the tide of Bay Staters who spend their gaming dollars outside of our state.

Furthermore, I see expanded gaming as inevitable in our state primarily because the Governor, Speaker of the House, and Senate President have all indicated their support. I have fought in the political arena against all three and know from practical experience that it is difficult to defeat them even when they are wrong on an issue.

So I will reserve my rights to support or oppose expanded gaming in Massachusetts until I have a better picture of what the legislation would say and how it would impact Western Massachusetts.

I am not a member of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, but that committee is holding a public hearing at the State House next Thursday, October 29, 2009, in Gardner Auditorium starting at 10AM.

The committee will hear public testimony on a plethora of bills dealing with expanded gaming: resort casinos, racinos, greyhound and horse racing track issues, video lottery terminals, and Indian gaming.

You are welcome to go to the State House if you would like to testify in person, or feel free to submit written testimony addressed to the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, State House, Boston, MA 02133.

Have a good week.

***

Representative Don Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us Website: www.donhumason.org

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group