Joan Vennochi on Gov. Patrick and casinos.

If not casinos, then what?

House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi hopes he answered that question by showing the state can balance its budget and grow jobs without gambling on gambling.

After defying Governor Deval Patrick for much of his first year in office, DiMasi handed the governor two important victories to begin his second.

The speaker agreed to tighten corporate tax laws to make it harder for companies to avoid state taxes. That will bring in close to $300 million in new revenue. DiMasi also backed a plan to give $1 billion over 10 years to the state's life-sciences industry. That will create new jobs - as many as 250,000, according to the Patrick administration, although the prediction is under dispute.

DiMasi also proposed raising $152 million by increasing the state's cigarette tax by $1 a pack. The money would be spent on escalating costs that are part of the state's mandatory health insurance law.

The speaker's moves are intended to show that the man dubbed "King Sal" in February's Boston Magazine can be flexible. They also show that DiMasi recognizes the need for revenue, cares about healthcare - and has no plans to advance the cause of casino gambling in Massachusetts.

UPDATE: More from Wizbang and the Globe.

SECOND UPDATE: More from the Globe.