Two tough questions for legislators to ponder: 

1.  Has the legislature factored in the likelihood of litigation by losing bidders over the award of an $80 million monopoly casino license? Won't litigation delays prevent casino license money from being available to fund the Governor's proposed state budget?

• Case in point. Last week, Nashua-based Law Warehouses filed suit against the State Liquor Commission over its award of a $200 million sole-source liquor distribution contract to a competitor, charging the Liquor Commission with using "biased and unlawful practices" in making the award.

2.  How will the legislature assure that casinos and tacky slots barns will not spread statewide? This has happened in every other state to have allowed casinos.

• There is nothing in SB152 - the casino bill backed by the Governor - limiting casino expansion. In fact, SB152 includes a commission to plan where and how to expand beyond one casino.

Now, it's crystal clear that including casino license money will result in a seriously unbalanced state budget. And no community will be insulated from the broken families, crime, and small business cannibalization caused by casinos.

A vote for casinos is a vote for budget chaos and a vote to proliferate casinos, slots barns, and tawdry slot machine venues statewide. Imitating the Massachusetts mistake by legalizing casinos here will only make casino problems worse.

Please vote against any casino legalization bill.

Thank you for your consideration,

Jim Rubens, Chair