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Is DiMasi being targeted?

A piece in the Globe has me wondering if gambling interests are out to get DiMasi.

We have unabashed slot booster David L. Flynn apparently bucking for the job of Speakeer:


State Representative David L. Flynn, the most senior member of the House, said last night that five colleagues have approached him and asked him to serve as interim speaker in the event that House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi steps down as a result of the ethics controversies swirling around him.

Flynn’s disclosure and the open discussion of DiMasi’s future is stark evidence of declining discipline in the chamber and eroding support for DiMasi, who has been speaker since 2004 and has held an iron grip on the chamber.


If I recall, the Patrick administration tried to torpedo DiMasi just before the hearing on Patrick’s casino legislation – alleging that DiMasi used his influence to get a software contract awarded to a friend of his.

Whenever Flynn is involved in something, talk of slot machines is never far behind:


If he were to ascend to the speakership, it would have a dramatic impact on the question whether to install slot machines at the state’s four racetracks, which he has advocated for years. Flynn’s district, which is based in Bridgewater and Raynham, includes the Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park. DiMasi has opposed any efforts to allow the tracks to install slot machines.

Given the history of efforts to bring gambling to Massachusetts and Middleboro, be very suspicious of seemingly unrelated events that lead you down the casino garden path.

Who’d have thought a little old land sale in Middleboro would bring a $1B community-altering, high-impact, tax-free business to town?

The whole thing stinks to me. What I see is gambling interests trying to take down one of the biggest gambling opponents. While odious, it would fit right in with the way gambling interests operate.

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  1. Gladys Kravitz
    November 9th, 2008 at 11:34 | #1

    Bumpkin, this is EXACTLY what I thought when I read this article. If you spend enough time reading about gambling interests and studying casino case stories, you start to figure out how they operate.

    As far as Flynn is concerned. Gak. The only reason he keeps winning re-election is that he keeps running unopposed. Ask anybody in his district over 60 and they can tell you some interesting (and not in a good way) stories about him.

    Just as the rest of the country is celebrating a brand new day, gambling interests and some Massachusetts legislators want to send our state, and our region in particular, back to the dark ages.

    Send them a message.

    NO! We demand better!

    Gladys

  2. Jacquie
    November 10th, 2008 at 19:28 | #2

    That’s exactly what is happening. Money will talk. It always does

    …and it will push over anyone in it’s path.

  3. Anonymous
    November 12th, 2008 at 09:38 | #3

    Good points, Bumpkin. It’s important to bring the issues to light so that people understand the political influence of the casino developers over our state government.

    It’s too bad there are lobby groups to represent special interests, and no lobby group to represent John Q. Public.

    Oh wait…maybe that’s supposed to be us. Pay attention people. Get involved. Let your representatives know what you expect from them. And show support for the ones that do the right thing.

  4. Smoking Owl
    November 13th, 2008 at 17:04 | #4

    Gambling interests and Massachusetts politicians.

    Sounds like a perfect storm of sleaze and corruption if there ever was one.

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