Governor Deval Patrick is standing by Massachusetts’ casino law. The state Supreme Judicial Court ruled this week voters will have a say in whether to repeal the law.
Patrick was at a conference in San Diego when the court released its decision. In his first day back at the State House, he would not directly speak to the ruling. He says he knows how he will vote in November.
“I’m going to vote to keep a system, the one we have, which enables individuals and their communities to decide whether it’s right in their communities and doesn’t permit people in individual communities to say what ought to happen in somebody else’s community,” Patrick says.
The governor originally signed the bill into law in 2011. Some casino supporters say expanded gaming will provide state government with more funding and create jobs. Opponents say a possible rise in compulsive gambling and other social issues outweigh any positive impacts.