Legislators called upon to perform due diligence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Legislators called upon to perform due diligence

(Palmer) United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts (USS Mass) calls upon the Legislature to perform due diligence with an independent commission appointed to conduct a data-driven cost-benefit analysis of legalizing slots and predatory gambling in the current global recession. In a letter distributed to Legislators today, USS Mass wrote, “Proponents of corporate casinos, racetracks and predatory gambling have spent millions of dollars from out-of-state interests lobbying legislators since Governor Patrick’s failed proposal to license three resort casinos was filed. Special interest groups have targeted the Commonwealth as a market for expanding their profits at the expense of host regions, local aid, small businesses, public safety, environment, taxpayers, individuals and families affected by the negative impacts of this industry. Wildly inflated job projections and revenues have been disseminated in the media by the corporate gambling industry, the Administration and alleged researchers funded by gambling and construction groups. The global recession has impacted revenues with casinos and racinos going bankrupt and creating economic instability. We call on you as an elected representative of the citizens and taxpayers of the Commonwealth to conduct an independent cost-benefit, data-driven analysis of expanded gambling before legalizing slots or any form of predatory gambling.”

USS Mass, President Kathleen Conley Norbut stated, “We are citizens and taxpayers of the Commonwealth who along with many of our fellow citizens do not trust the one-sided figures disseminated by lobbyists and proponents of predatory gambling.” Ms. Norbut continued, “It is clear to the average citizen that the casino train left the station ten years ago…and crashed. Special interests must be clouding the vision of legislative leadership to pursue such a reckless course when bankruptcy, lay-offs and cannibalization of small businesses by the casino industry are rampant.”

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