Michael Widmer

There's a lot going on he underneath the surface to surface right now shows this. The surface shows that -- the legislature has so wrapped down the wrong leaning informal sessions until January speak to Macy has has always in a very capable and articulate way expressed his paws his reservation reservations plural about casino gambling and whether this is in fact a legitimate expansion of economic opportunity here in Massachusetts and that those answers have to be provided not just by develop Patrick up by -- And one of the guys is on the front lines in NAFTA debate in that discussion is set Michael Widmer. -- heard -- mention his name earlier in a moment or two ago when you know we've referenced Mike would -- in the -- to -- taxpayers foundation frequently here on French were we reached out to a who have kept -- would run the phone behaved like -- a commodity is sura.

Robert Harding no you sound bright eyed and bushy tailed Mike well -- got a big that's that's right the sun never sets on Mike --

Interesting news in the papers today specifically I mean this when I read the headline and I think instantaneously view. They -- line of the globe says panelists there's -- downing Connecticut -- spirit Connecticut casino to counteract Massachusetts plans. I looked at -- and I said -- I think I've read something like this before Mike Wood but told us about this are predicted this several weeks ago.

Well yeah I had -- that story but it got my are right now it got a very erratic yet not clear that they can license an independent. You know without going back in not in agreement they have with the tribes so it maybe get -- idea but not the last that you can in an existing air obviously air and make -- throughout Spain. -- years and it's dark already and we would do here. So critical question -- competition that England is one of the on -- there excuse that we need to get a catalog forward.

Yeah I mean even if they -- two you know an independent or third body. You might actually see a very unusual alliance you could. It seems to me it would be in the economic interest of the operators of both fox would. You know we can. To perhaps you know join up subtype of joint venture a third third casino just again to minimize that take the economic opportunity associated with any Massachusetts initiative.

Well look at verdict be cured that there are going to sit spot you know nobody -- at that I don't operate on it yet. Preston -- laurels and say okay let's do what do what they want. No way they're going to be fighting for their Arctic air to preserve it expands you know -- it's the American way.

Oh it sure as you know yet he's the minute you start to rest up coast that's hit its all over your competitors -- goes zooming by you and it's. You know sometimes that cannot cause a little bit of frenzied stress now lives but it is what it is. No no question about it how about this one more locally Mike the -- the globe also has a kind of assist around Allah companion article about. Regional concerns being expressed now not in specifically in the town of middle borrow which has already had its vote. But in the adjoining towns in that whole southeast region eight issues of traffic. Housing values. Crime and -- in Forstmann issues beginning to have beginning to surface how does this play in your opinion. In the legislature in the weeks ahead.

Well I think that'll have an impact because clearly. One of the argument is that that part of this state in -- op development and it where I think not our they're known that there would be. Brought the court some opposition but our support for the -- at art of -- and little girl or voted for it. But I thought my god says wow that read it and elected leaders but anyway are organizing. Again it's you know I think -- have an impact and thank you. As you know there are thousands -- on hot I don't know one thing will make their I think. That's currently active --

Yeah you know I I I expressed just before we got it we we just before we reached out to god you money in Iran RKO Mike there -- expressed it in a kind of in two ways is of very legitimate. Local leadership concern about. Just traffic impacts in the in the in and the negative effect that could have on quality of lights -- traffic is one. You know we both know that people really keenly focused now on housing valuation everybody is seen some drop in the value of the home. Nobody wants to see that happen in you know additional you know additional injury done to the to the -- and then last but not least it seems to me they would have to be some economic envy or jealousy network of from you know -- a selectmen to a three towns all but. I -- you know I don't see a nickel coming to my town but obscene all these potential negative effects. It does it's it doesn't suit may invite political Wednesday in the interest. To just sit the idly by and I'd say it to my rep by set -- the speaker of the governor Ronald -- eight. I don't buy this because my town's going to get hurt and I get no I get no -- front.

That's the critical issue now the Patrick why can't have never gotten out of money or. The local community mitigation one of the reasons -- the net revenues but he is art let. Net straight advertises there are voting Arab op money it's hot. We don't know whether it that -- what they Attleboro would get most of that in a majority found. A little bit and all that remain aid it is important that you have an air why it is but what a dynamic figure early flight out that is the winner wins big and it's darting around they get the --

You know what happens gritty area I like the phrase crimes I was just going to say you know the phrase which will be used they can take -- American copyrighted everybody will just they would get chump change. Right get a job change we get the headaches we get a negative effects and -- again chump change it when it's expressed in that way everybody can relate to and everybody can understand -- and most people instantaneously think that they are getting screwed that somebody's always going to get the better of the deal -- did to the distress to the -- detriment and so. I mean I think I can almost see it playing out will local officials begin to express the reservation to their reps and senators and all of a sudden the dynamics that may have been moving in wonder may have been moving in one direction. All of a sudden I reversed based upon this you know this this fairly predictable pattern.

Why said Tom is that there -- a lot of vote on the legislature and outs and the fact that they're very much. In quiet and and where a lot of Iraq have not decided. What to do and -- await the other plate now and and and it's very -- a lot of very much -- at this point. If -- of congress state obviously will be part of.

And -- a re a related issue before I let you go and you've been great terror rehab period be able to reach out get this money is to get you ridge said before I let you go it is in my opinion at least related state. Tax collections. Thus far this year -- one overall. And then to anything within the internals with three guts in common with holding as compared to what capital gains as compared to sales what the the specific show speaking to -- economic weakness or economic momentum.

Well rabbit for this year are you know little better than projected that the problem is the projections were very low. The major problem. We're saying -- corporate taxes and capital gains. -- really been that what created that art. Growth and tax revenues -- yours they're both leveling off. And we have our revenue forecast tomorrow and we're protect even further leveling -- why. In that next fiscal year in in July I want. That means -- court acted from our revenues you know I got bases we -- not -- any job. So we're seeing. Relative to our Hayward and there on the revenue front but it not a very apartment sits -- on the job. And -- forward and the limited revenue growth next year may -- 3% or which you know really small. And I think that a enormous pressure on policy makers oh hi -- figure out about you've been there --

It it's it I mean it really is and you know you look at the rainy day fund you look at the cost from -- the pressures from health KF some of the built in unavoidable increases that happened inevitably because of collective bargaining contracts E and the like this is this is not going to be a pretty picture what I he is saying Mikey is that nobody should expect notwithstanding the governor is very ambitious proposals on several fronts. Nobody should expect that either a Massachusetts miracle from the beat eighties off the similar buoyancy we had during the great years of the nineties. When -- really the economy just took off and we were as hot as a pistol.

Nobody expect that at all and it acts and an act we're covering very close to a respected they may eight by it not not yet been due respect to. But it that'd be very we got broke -- we rarely and eight diplomat its merit only.

Hey Mike you are great to join us appreciate very much