NEWS
Massachusetts racing ally steps down from state legislature
Posted: Thursday, March 22, 2007 10:55 AM
by Steve Myrick
Suffolk Downs and the Massachusetts racing industry lost their most powerful legislative ally on Wednesday when State Senate President Robert Travaglini (D-East Boston) resigned his seat to work as a lobbyist.
Travaglini was replaced as senate president by Senator Therese Murray (D-Plymouth), who has been a vocal opponent of expanded gambling measures. In the often Byzantine world of Massachusetts politics, Murray argued forcefully against a slot bill during discussion off the Senate floor, but under Travaglini’s leadership, voted in favor of the measure when it reached the chamber.
Neither Travaglini, in his resignation speech, nor Murray, in her acceptance speech, mentioned gambling issues.
Statehouse observers believe the shift in power at the statehouse makes the prospect of expanded gambling legislation much less likely. Along with Murray, House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi (D-Boston) opposes such measures.
Newly elected Governor Deval Patrick has assigned a task group to study casino gambling as a way to close a significant budget shortfall. That task force is expected to make its recommendations to Patrick later this spring.
Travaglini, whose district included Suffolk Downs, has been an influential supporter of the state’s race tracks.
During the 2006 legislative session, he engineered passage of an expanded gambling bill in the Senate, the first time either legislative body had approved such a bill. The measure, which would have allowed up to 2,000 video slot machines at each of the state’s four pari-mutuel tracks, was defeated in the House of Representatives.
Travaligni wants to form a partnership with Boston attorney Thomas Kiley to start a public strategy and lobbying firm, the Boston Globe reports. He would be prohibited for one year from directly lobbying the state legislature, but could contact the governor or state agencies.
Steve Myrick is a Massachusetts-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
