Citizen effort to repeal casino deal moves forward
 

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011, Boston, MA - A diverse group of citizens from across the state today made the first step to launch a referendum petition on the controversial casino bill recently signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick.

John Ribeiro of Winthrop, head of the newly formed ballot committee Repeal the Casino Deal, filed the required ten voter signatures with the Secretary of State’s Office.

Under the Massachusetts Constitution, citizens have the right to challenge bad laws through the petition process. The number of certified signatures required to get on the ballot is 1½% of the votes cast in the 2010 statewide election for Governor which the Secretary of State has calculated to be 34,456. The entire process needs to be completed in a 90 period following the signing of the bill into law. If successful, Bay Staters will have the opportunity to cast their vote on the issue as part of the November 2012 ballot. It will be up to Attorney General Martha Coakley to ultimately decide whether the casino bill can go before voters.

The drafters of H.3807 inserted language making incidental “appropriations” to the Governor, the Attorney General and the non-existent Gaming Commission to position the bill as a “appropriation” that is excluded from the referendum process.
"This is one of the most significant laws passed in Massachusetts in over a hundred years,” Ribeiro said. “Gambling interests have spent more than $20 million to have their way. Now it is time for citizens to get their say.”

To get involved with the petition effort, contact John Ribeiro at 617-701-7823 or email RepealTheCasinoDeal@gmail.com