U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren is out against casinos in Massachusetts, saying she will vote to repeal the 2011 legislation that faces a voter referendum this fall, The Boston Herald reports.
“I come to the question of gambling from a background in bankruptcy and what happens economically to families,” the Cambridge Democrat told reporters yesterday. “It’s a tough call here. People need jobs, but gambling can be a real problem economically for a lot of people. I didn’t support gambling the first time around and I don’t expect to support it (now).”
MassLive reports that the group leading the effort to repeal the casino law—which would come with a “Yes” vote on Question 3 in November—does not know of any plans on Warren’s part to campaign for repeal this fall.
About a year ago, Warren said that she appreciated that the legislation calls for casinos’ proposed communities to vote on whether or not to play host. Those who are calling for a “No” vote on the referendum have criticized the repeal effort for allowing a statewide vote to overshadow the votes of communities that want casinos.
Warren said she would vote against the law after speaking to the Greater Boston Labor Council Monday. Labor groups comprise a healthy chunk of Warren’s constituency…and also support keeping gambling laws on the books. According to the Herald, an anti-repeal banner above hung the stage during the Labor Day event.
Other politicians have spoken out of late about their thoughts on casino repeal. Among gubernatorial candidates, Republican Mark Fisher and Democrat Donald Berwick would vote in favor of repeal, while Republican Charlie Baker and Democrats Martha Coakley and Steve Grossman say they would keep the laws as they are. Baker has said that if he won, even if the law was repealed, he would fight to keep the planned MGM Springfield resort alive.
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