Op-Ed

Time to make it work

By Christy Mihos

As a long time opponent of casino gaming, an issue that has been vetted for years, and now has passed the prevue of the Legislature and the Governor, the process is done.  The hurtful insults aimed at the leadership of the House and Senate are unfounded.

This is particularly true for the Senate President, Therese Murray, a thoughtful and honest public servant. The governor introduced a gaming bill, the speaker introduced a gaming bill, and the Senate President managed the best deal for the commonwealth on an issue where 55-65% of the population supported the concept and when the construction jobs and permanent jobs are badly needed. To a great extent this recession is blue collar and these are blue collar jobs and we need these jobs because a good economy has jobs across the spectrum not just for biochemists.

In the early 1990s, as a state employee of the Big Dig, Murray would not go along to get along and was fired.  When she re-emerged as a State Senator she focused on state policy issues ranging from welfare reform to economic development and the state, her district and this region have benefitted from her efforts. For me, character is tested when government tries to roll over you and places your family's welfare and your career in absolute jeopardy as happened to me when at the Turnpike Authority.  When Scott Harsbarger, the former AG and a hypocritical critic of the legislature, had a chance to stop one of the biggest frauds in the state’s history, the Big Dig, he was AWOL.

Senate President Therese Murray is not in my party but she has earned my respect.