Pro-Gambling Senators Speak Out

Sen. Lou D'Allesandro led a group of six pro-gambling Senators in a press conference calling for a "non-taxpayer based" revenues source for the state budget. The Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and lead negotiator for the Senate in budget negotiations has been taking a hard line that gambling must be included in any budget he supports.

D'Allesandro, flanked by Senators Peggy Gilmour, Bette Lasky, Michael Downing, John Gallas, and Betsi DeVries, presented a plan to raise $205 million from casino-style slot machines at the state's race tracks and in the North Country.

D'Allesandro's says his plan would produce a $55 million surplus, which would be used to address Charter School or other cuts made to the budget. His plan also includes:

• State employe furlough
• Additional 1/4 point increase in the Rooms and Meal Tax, slated to go 8.75%
• Direction to the Governor to cut $15 million in each of the next two years

D'Allensandro said he would not accept a compromise offered by Senator Kathleen Sgambati, which would allow a single expanded gambling license to Rockingham Park. D'Allesandro said he was in favor of economic development for the entire state, and repeated his pledge to oppose any budget that does not include some form of his plan. Gallus, who has long pushed for a pair of slot parlors in the North Country, also opposed any effort to limit slot machines to Salem. However, Manchester's Lasky said she was open to compromise, but still preferred expanded gambling across the state.

D'Allesnadro said he would not take himself off the Committee of Conference. All Conference Reports must be unanimous, though Senate President Sylvia Larsen could remove any holdouts to a final budget agreement. Larsen has sat through most of today's negotiations, and at one point sat in when Sgambati is out of the room.

Governor John Lynch has been holding private discussions with key lawmakers throughout the day, but D'Allesandro says he has not been taken aside yet.

"I'm felling a little slighted. The Governor hasn't taken me into a room. What am I going to do?" D'Allasandro joked. "You know, my wife does that to me sometimes."

The clock continues to tick down as the Committee faces a Thursday deadline to pass the two-year, $11.5 billion back to the full House and Senate. However, Committee Chair Marge Smith has the power to "stop the clock" and hold off that deadline as long as necessary to get a deal done. Both Smith and D'Allesndro hope to avoid a Continuing Resolution, which would allow New Hampshire government to remain open should the Legislature fail to pass a budget by the end of the Fiscal Year on June 30th.