Patrick Finds Casino-Plan Backers In U.S. House

By Jim O'SullivanPrint Story | Email Story
and Kyle Cheney State House News Service BOSTON - The Massachusetts delegation to the U.S. House leans in support of Gov. Deval Patrick's casino plan, leverage the governor said he may use to lobby state lawmakers. Four of the eight congressmen who responded to News Service inquiries said they back Patrick's effort to encourage resort-style casinos as a way to nurture state coffers. Four others said they were unsure yet or deemed it a "state issue." The state has 10 representatives - one other declined to respond and the seat vacated by Martin Meehan in the 5th District was filled by special election Tuesday night. Democrat Niki Tsongas beat out Republican Jim Ogonowski for the seat once held by her husband, the late Paul Tsongas. A spokeswoman for Tsongas said earlier Tuesday that the Lowell Democrat has historically opposed casinos. A spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. John Olver said in an e-mail that the Amherst Democrat hasn't taken a position yet. "From where I'm sitting, a lot of the ideas that the governor proposed originally have been shot down," said U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, an early Patrick political ally, who said he was confident the governor's economic promises, including $450 million in annual net revenues, would ring true. "One of the reasons people like me fought very hard to get Deval Patrick elected governor is that we wanted to make some progress in a number of areas," McGovern said, pointing to education, infrastructure, and municipal services. He added, "At some point, if you're going to move forward on some of these things, you've got to find the revenues." Patrick has made it a point to connect personally and policywise with the 12-member congressional delegation, including the 10 House members who rarely collaborated with Patrick's predecessor, former Republican Gov. Mitt Romney. With the entire Washington delegation, along with all six constitutional officers and 88 percent of the state Legislature, registered Democratic, navigating the intra-partisan waters of Beacon Hill has proved challenging for the relative political newcomer. "If I need it, sure, I'm going to call in all the reserves," Patrick said Monday. "But we've got a whole host of economic development initiatives in front of the Legislature right now, so we're going to push on all those fronts." The casino bill, filed last week and facing resistance in the House, calls for up to three casinos in different regions, with local ballot referenda approval required. The so-called Western Massachusetts region carved out by Patrick's bill stretches from Worcester County west. Another Patrick political supporter, U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Somerville, endorsed an urban-centered casino, saying that would allow the state to capitalize on tourists already visiting the area. "I think it would be a mistake not to have it somewhere within reach of downtown or the Convention Center," he said. Capuano cautioned against over-blowing the gambling windfall. "I think it's a mistake to look at it as something that will build the economy," he said. "It might sustain some of the things we have, it might keep some of the money we already send to other places, and I think it will." U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Newton, positioned gambling as a civil liberties issue, calling Patrick's plan "reasonable to me" and saying one in southeastern Massachusetts could be particularly effective. "The main reason for allowing it is: Human beings like to do it," said Frank, who, as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, is looking to loosen federal restrictions on Internet gambling. But Frank, talking with reporters Monday in Roxbury, also said his affluent liberal friends don't "impress" me when they say people shouldn't hold casino jobs. U.S. Rep. William Delahunt, D-Quincy, told the News Service he supports the advent of casinos here. "I think it makes sense," he said. Delahunt dismissed the notion that casinos in Massachusetts would combine with others in the region to stretch the market too thin (Connecticut has both Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods casinos). "I think if there's an oversaturation, the market will respond, and the clamor for licenses will be reflected in the number of those who seek licenses," he said. Holding Their Cards Three other congressmen, including Olver, said they were withholding a decision. In an e-mailed statement, William Tranghese, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, wrote "Congressman Neal is currently reviewing the governor's proposal to determine what economic and social impact gaming would have in western and central Massachusetts. This is an important statewide debate and he is prepared to follow this issue very closely." U.S. Rep. John Tierney, D-Salem, said he wanted to learn more about the plan. "I have some reservations concerning what I have heard, but have not had an opportunity to read the specifics of the plan nor discuss them with the governor, and I will reserve a final and comprehensive comment for now," Tierney said in an e-mailed statement. U.S. Rep. Edward Markey, D-Malden, dean of the House delegation, declined to comment on the plan, telling the News Service on Monday, "It's a state issue." Through a spokesman, one congressman, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, did not respond. Both Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry deferred to local judgment. Kennedy spokeswoman Melissa Wagoner wrote in an e-mail that Kennedy "personally opposes the extension of gambling in Massachusetts, but it's an issue for the governor and Legislature to decide. If the state approves a gambling compact, Senator Kennedy will respect that decision." Kerry spokeswoman Brigid O'Rourke said in an e-mail, "Governor Patrick is exploring the possibility of casinos as a source of revenue the way any governor would, and Senator Kerry agrees the final decision should be made at the local level."
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Dalton Town Hall Lift Solutions in Development

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — Solutions are being sought for the lift in Town Hall that has been out of service since December because of safety concerns. 
 
Building Grounds Superintendent Jeff Burch told the Americans with Disabilities Act Committee meeting on Tuesday night that Hill Engineering has been contracted to come up with a potential option.
 
The lift is in the police station and the only other lift for the town hall is in the library, which is not accessible after library hours. 
 
Previous attempts by Garaventa Lift to repair it have been unsuccessful. 
 
Replacing it in the same location is not an option because the new weight limit requirement went from 400 pounds to 650 pounds. Determining whether the current railings can hold 650 pounds is outside the scope of Garaventa's services to the town. 
 
The first option Hill has proposed is to install a vertical lift in a storage closet to the left of the police entrance, which would go up into the town account's office. 
 
A member of the committee expressed concern that the current office location may not be suitable as it could hinder access to the police station during construction. 
 
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