Will Brownsberger -- State Representative, Democrat, 24th Middlesex District

Read the MELA endorsement letter here!

As previously noted, the state Division of Capital Management has terminated Verizon’s lease on the Exit 59 location. Verizon has pushed back on that, but DCAM has remained firm.

The House approved the gambling bill by a vote of 120 to 37 last night.

I’ve received almost 100 emails in the last 36 hours in response to my note about my opposition to the casino bill. Although the tally of these responses is over two to one in agreement with my opposition, there are a great many people whom I respect who disagree with me on this vote. For [...]

Speaker DeLeo announced today his plan for gaming in the Commonwealth — essentially two resort casinos and slots at the race tracks with the revenues spread to multiple goals and constituencies. The speaker’s messaging on the bill is primarily focused on the employment benefits.

Legislation to revise the law of non-competition agreements took a step forward this week. The Committee on Labor and Human Resources reported out a bill with a favorable recommendation.

A public hearing has been set on proposed amendments to the 40B housing law.

Cape and Islands Public Radio (WCAI) is running an excellent clip from reporter Molly Connors.

Representative Ehrlich and I are pleased to now publish a next draft for continued input. A hearing on the legislation will be held at 10:30AM on October 7 in Room A-2 in the state house.

Gambling, health care cost control, further pension reform – these are the major issues that the legislature is likely to address this fall after we resolve the Kennedy succession. The theme? Continued financial pressure.

Since the BBO symposium a number of interesting exchanges have occurred by e-mail and in the blogosphere. Here are some links and thoughts.

Representative Ehrlich agreement and I have reached agreement on a draft that we both feel currently feel comfortable with. We look forward to further vetting and input. Formal hearings will occur in the Fall.

Discussion is heating up in the State House about legislation to ban agreements not to compete. I filed with Senator Pat Jehlen a complete ban on these agreements and Rep. Lori Ehrlich has filed a bill that would limit them.

One of the arguments sometimes made in favor of licensing casinos is that Indian tribes in Massachusetts will get full casino licenses under federal law no matter what we do.   This appears to be false. 

The one clear argument in favor of building casinos is job creation.  The creation of construction and low skill jobs is real.  As to the revenue benefit for the state, the numbers are unclear. 

Massachusetts has been losing manufacturing jobs for decades and some segments of our labor force are giving up on work.

It’s over for this year.  The House voted down the Governor’s casino proposal by a margin of 106 to 48 this evening.

This page collects links on current challenges to our economy.

Last week, the vast majority of the House, including many Republicans, voted to approve a Life Sciences Bill that contemplates the spending of $1 billion over 10 years to enhance the life sciences industry in Massachusetts.

We face stiff global competition for the location of biotech manufacturing facilities.