Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley says she is pleased that the Supreme Judicial Court has made a decision that puts casino repeal on the ballot and she says her office is now working to certify the question.
If Coakley is disappointed in the state's highest court's decision to allow a casino repeal referendum on the November ballot, she is not letting on. Though the attorney general fought hard to keep the decision out of the voters hands "based on the facts and the law" before her, she says the SJC's decision is a thoughtful and instructive one.
"In fact, it is fine in the sense that nothing changed the process. All of the folks who wanted it on the ballot still had to work to get their signatures. They've done that. The process is the same as it would be if we'd not decided," she said.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which did not take a position on the casino repeal, issued a statement saying it respects the SJC's decision, but is still committed to implementing the law as it exists.
Chair Steve Crosby said "We have the flexibility to achieve progress in the licensing and regulatory process even in an atmosphere of uncertainty and we will continue to do so."
Former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, an advocate in the Repeal the Casino Deal, said the decision was a wonderful one and that the SJC was always on the right side of history.
Harshbarger says the people have the right to vote and be heard and he is confident now that they will vote against what he called "flawed economic policy."
Polls do show that many citizens have soured on casinos since the law was passed in 2011.
"The more people know, the less they comfortable with this decision This is a chance for a do over," Harshbarger said.
When asked about the potential tens of millions of dollars the casinos could spend in the months going forward, Repeal campaign chair John Ribero was undaunted. He said they have been outspent "almost a hundred to one" before and he believes they will win.
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