When state Sen. Tom Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat, proposed the idea of a super lottery to raise some extra money for a cash-strapped Connecticut, critics pounded him.
The Waterbury Republican-American, in particular, lashed into the 31st District senator for turning to gambling, a traditional vice, to secure some funds to close a growing budget hole.
Now Gov. Jodi Rell is pushing Keno, a Bingo-like electronic gambling game that she says might bring in $60 million to state coffers.
Colapietro said he wonders if the critics will pound her as they did him.
"Why isn't the Waterbury rag crucifying her the way they did to me?" Colapietro said. "How come I got crucified and she doen't?"
He said that his plan wasn't a bad idea and Rell's may be fine as well. He said he doesn't gamble, but figures that if those who do can help raise some cash to keep the state budget balanced, why not pursue it?
He said that his plan wasn't a bad idea and Rell's may be fine as well. He said he doesn't gamble, but figures that if those who do can help raise some cash to keep the state budget balanced, why not pursue it?
To be fair to the editors in Waterbury, Rell only proposed the Keno game yesterday. They might yet "crucify" her in an editorial.
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
