BOSTON (AP) – The fate of casino gambling is just one of four ballot questions being put to Massachusetts voters.
The questions – which also touch on expanding the state’s bottle deposit law, repealing a measure related to the gas tax, and allowing workers to accrue sick time – are getting almost as much attention as the top political races.
Casinos and other supporters of expanded gambling have raised millions to defend the 2011 law, which allows Massachusetts to license up to three casinos and a single slots parlor. They say the law will create jobs and be a boon to the economy.
Critics have argued that casinos harm local economies, prey on those who can least afford to gamble away their money, and lead to gambling addiction.
Since the casino question – Question 3 – asks voters if they want to repeal the law, a “yes” vote is a vote against casinos and a “no” vote is a vote for casinos.
On Monday, state Secretary William Galvin urged voters to take the time to read the one sentence summaries of what a “yes” and “no” vote means for each question before casting their ballot.
The casino question also has generated an influx of spending by casino companies.
According to the most recent campaign finance reports the pro-casino group had raised nearly $12 million, much of it from casino companies. That’s far more than the $675,000 raised by casino opponents.
Another question that could cause some confusion is Question 1, which seeks to eliminate a law linking future increases in the state gas tax to the rate of inflation.
A “yes” vote eliminates the adjustment. A “no” vote allows the future increases.
The ballot committee favoring the elimination of the increases has raised about $94,000, compared to the more than $2.1 million by opponents of the question, who favor the so-called “indexing” of the gas tax to the rate of inflation.
Another question that has seen millions in spending is Question 2, which would expand the state’s 5-cent bottle deposit law to non-alcoholic and non-carbonated beverage containers.
Opponents of the question- including supermarkets and the Washington-based American Beverage Association, which lobbies for soft drink companies – have raised nearly $8.8 million compared to the $1.5 million raised by supporters of the ballot question, including environmental groups like the Massachusetts Sierra Club.
The last question – Question 4 – asks if workers should be entitled to accrue up to 40 hours of paid sick time per year.
A “yes” vote would entitle employees to earn and use sick time while a “no” vote would make no changes to sick time laws.
Supporters, largely unions and pro-labor groups, have raised nearly $1 million. Opponents, who say the ballot question takes a one-size-fits-all approach, have raised more than $47,000.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.
