Massachusetts Governor Opposes Expanded Gambling

As reported by the Boston Globe: "Mitt Romney is now vowing to oppose any legislation that would expand gambling in Massachusetts.

"Romney's new position on the hot-button issue represents a marked turnabout from the stance he took during his first year in office, when he strongly considered establishing slot machine parlors to generate tax revenues during the state's fiscal crisis.

"In a letter to the editor of the Boston Globe published today, Romney said the improving Bay State economy, combined with the social ills that accompany gambling, offers little incentive to bring slot-machine parlors or casinos to the Commonwealth.

"…Senators on both sides of the issue yesterday said the threat of a Romney veto may have set the bar impossibly high for any bill aimed at establishing slot machine parlors. It takes a two-thirds majority in both houses of the Legislature to override a veto, and bills aimed at establishing gambling have traditionally had trouble attracting a simple majority.

"…The letter was written in response to a Sept. 5 Globe story in which members of conservative groups in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Florida vowed to make trouble for Romney's putative presidential campaign if he signed legislation expanding gambling in Massachusetts. The threats came as leaders in the Massachusetts Senate prepare to push this fall to establish slot machine parlors with approximately 3,500 machines each at the state's four racetracks, in addition to an undetermined site in western Massachusetts…"