STATEMENT OF KARYN POLITO REGARDING HER VOTE AGAINST THE GAMING BILL PASSED BY THE HOUSE TODAY

The gaming bill approved by the House today is a bad deal for Massachusetts. These are the biggest licenses ever awarded by our state and it would be wrong to hand them out on a no-bid basis. The only way to obtain maximum value for the taxpayers is through a competitive bidding process. I hope the Senate makes the bill better by adding language that encourages competition and openness. As we look to expand gaming in the state, we need to do it in a way that maintains the public's confidence.