Gov. Deval Patrick offered Massachusetts lawmakers an ultimatum Thursday: Pass a series of stalled bills and he would consider signing a casino bill that includes a single slots parlor.
Patrick has opposed allowing slots at the state’s racetracks but now says he could accept a gambling bill with both casinos and one competitively bid slot parlor — but only if lawmakers first pass several key bills that have become bogged down.
The Legislature ends its formal session Saturday night.
“I am willing to consider that compromise if we get action to my satisfaction on all of these other bills,” Patrick told reporters outside his Statehouse office Thursday after meeting with House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray.
Patrick ticked off his priorities including an overhaul of the state’s Criminal Offender Record Information system, an economic development bill including a sales tax holiday, a small business health care cost containment bill and a [...]

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