Get Your Vote On! Statewide Ballot Question #3
Election season is in full swing. The halls of the State House are subdued as representatives and senators campaign for re-election in their respective districts. Statewide campaign organizations are battling it out for the offices of Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and State Treasurer. And, one of the Massachusetts U.S. Senate seats all of its U.S. Congress seats are on the ballot. (To find out where you vote, go here: http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.aspx).
But, there’s more. Ballots bring ballot questions and this election cycle finds four high profile questions being put to the state’s voters. We’ve tackled Question #1 and Question #2. Now we’ll delve into Question #3.
Question #3: Expanding Prohibitions on Gaming
The third ballot question proposes shutting down the state’s gambling industry before it can open its first casino. In 2011, the state government passed “An Act establishing expanded gaming in the Commonwealth.” Almost 80% of the House of Representatives and almost 60% of the Senate backed the legislation. Governor Deval Patrick signed it into law on Nov. 22 of that year.
Since then, controversy surrounding gaming has swirled about the halls of state power. Meanwhile, developers have gained approval for resort casinos in Everett and Springfield, construction has begun on a Plainville slots parlor, and officials are knocking around an idea for a casino in the South Coast. If passed, Question 3 will shut all of this down.
Just to be clear, voting “yes” on Question 3 means no to casinos, while voting “no” on Question 3 means yes to casinos.
Proponents
Proponents claim the narrative of casinos improving the economy is a myth. They say bond credit rating agencies do not look favorably upon municipalities and states that launch casino industries. They also claim casinos lead to increased criminal activity and that Governor Patrick, Speaker of the House Robert, and Senate President Therese Murray are all opposed to casinos in their hometowns.
Opponents
Opponents claim the state’s new casino industry will create “thousands of construction and permanent jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for our cities and towns.” They say state residents spend almost $1 billion a year at casinos in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maine. They say we should keep that money in our state.
Take some time to figure out how you feel about casinos in Massachusetts. And come Nov. 4, make your voice heard. Of course, you won’t be able to vote if you’re not registered to do so. There’s still time! Click here to get registered to vote: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/calls-to-action/get-vote-register-nov-4th-election/
For more info on the ballot questions: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elebalquestinfo.htm. And don’t forget that the week after the election MALC will be holding its 8th Annual Artists Under The Dome Event at the State House.
Stay tuned for our post on statewide ballot question #4!