NEWS
Gambling opponent wants more money for addicts
Posted: Thursday, May 08, 2003
Massachusetts State Representative Daniel Bosley (D-North Adams), who last month spearheaded an effort to defeat a bill that would have allowed state racetracks to operate slot machines, has introduced a new proposal that would take $1.2-million from state-subsidized racetrack funds and redirect that money to a fund helping problem gamblers.
The Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling had its more than $1-million in state appropriated funds slashed this year, but racetrack owners do not think that they should lift that burden, suggesting instead that Bosley, who is chairman of the Government Regulations committee, cull the money from the Massachusetts lottery.
The $1.2-million comes from a network of trust funds that get their money from the state's portion of gambling revenue at each of the four tracks. The tracks then apply to receive a portion of the fund for renovations and/or advertising.
"How many businesses in Massachusetts get to charge off against the state … to put up drapes or to pave parking lots," Bosley asked the Boston Herald. "I have a lot of empathy for the people who work at the tracks. This is not a swipe at anybody."
The tracks are opposed to Bosley's proposal.
