The Goverment We want and How We Pay for It

Scott Van Vooris in Wednesday's Herald suggests that the demise of the casino bill will spark a budget brawl..........a new era of tough financial choices, painful cuts and bickering over lost opportunities or .......

Maybe a statewide community conversation about the kind of government we want and how we pay for it. If not gambling revenues what? 

No deal, no money
Casinos’ demise to spark budget brawl
By Scott Van Voorhis   |   Wednesday, March 19, 2008  The likely demise of Gov. Deval Patrick's casino plan will usher in a new era on Beacon Hill of tough financial choices, painful cuts and bickering over lost opportunities, some lawmakers warn...................

That vote, far from putting an end to the controversial issue, may kick off a fresh round of Beacon Hill bickering and finger-pointing as lawmakers come to terms with the loss of a projected $400-million-a-year revenue stream.

“We have to figure out ways to come up with revenue,” said Tim Sullivan, a spokesman for the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, a casino supporter. “Somebody better have some pretty brilliant ideas.”