GOVERNOR PATRICK’S 9-C CUTS 11/04/2009 View Press Release
Governor Patrick cut in half the appropriation for compulsive gambling services, from $1 million to $500,000.
YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION IS CRUCIAL. Governor Patrick needs to know that this cut was disproportionately harsh and poorly timed. Problem gambling services are needed in the Commonwealth.
Disproportionately Harsh
A 50% cut--from $1 million to $500,000—will decimate problem gambling services in the Commonwealth. This is effective immediately.
A 12% cut to services to prevent, intervene and treat problem gambling already occurred due to declining racetrack profits.
This 62% cut threatens the existence of the only services for problem gamblers and their families in the Commonwealth
Poorly Timed
The Governor made this 9C cut announcement while people at the Statehouse were giving heart breaking testimonies of lives ruined by gambling problems at a hearing about bringing casino gambling to Massachusetts.
The Mass. State Lottery continues to be the most profitable lottery in the country. State regulations that direct services from the Lottery toward reducing, preventing, and treating gambling problems were already inadequate before this drastic cut.
A state that sponsors or promotes gambling needs to take responsibility for addressing the downside as a cost of doing business.
A CALL TO ACTION: What can you do now? Contact the Governor and the following policymakers TODAY and tell them: “We urge you to stop the dismantling of problem gambling services in Massachusetts. We ask that you restore funding for the remainder of this fiscal year and maintain funding for FY11.”
Governor Deval Patrick 617-725-4005 Email: via the web at www.mass.gov/governor (scroll down and look for the envelope with the caption “Write, fax or email us”)
Secretary JudyAnn Bigby, Executive Office of Health and Human Services 617-573-1600
Secretary Jay Gonzalez 617-727-2040 Executive Secretary of Administration and Finance
Commissioner John Auerbach, 617-624-6000 Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Treasurer Timothy Cahill 617-367-6900 Office of the State Treasury
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