Gov. Patrick's obsession with casinos continues.
Setting the stage for a fierce budget showdown, Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration announced yesterday he will base his 2009 budget in part on $300 million in speculative casino revenue, a move that ramps up pressure on lawmakers to legalize casinos in the face of a $1.3 billion deficit.
Patrick’s top budget aide, Leslie Kirwan, said the governor wants to use the casino cash to plug a $124 million shortfall in state assistance to cities and towns, fund municipal transportation projects and to provide property-tax relief to 500,000 homeowners.
“We need money to pay for the priorities we all share,” Kirwan said. “Everyone would like us to spend more money on better schools, health care and more local aid, but we need to deal with the (deficit) to make those investments.”
House lawmakers condemned the governor’s plan to bank on the casino money, arguing that such a move is irresponsible when the Legislature has not approved Patrick’s proposal to license three casinos in Massachusetts. The House is not expected to vote on the bill until late spring or early summer.
“Forget the cart, this is putting the entire wagon train before the horse,” said House Ways and Means Chairman Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop). “Moreover, even if this money did become available this year - which is a big if - it may not be there the next year.”
UPDATE: More from the Herald and Globe.
SECOND UPDATE: From the Herald and Globe.