New Hampshire Governor Rejects Gambling Legislature

CONCORD, New Hampshire -- As reported by the New Hampshire Union Leader: "Gov. John Lynch said today he will not consider any expansion of gambling if the Legislature rejects a proposed two-year
New Hampshire  budget Wednesday.

"Lynch said he has told lawmakers, 'It's off the table for this session. I've made it very clear.'

"He said he will use an executive order establish a commission to study all the issues around gambling after the budget passes. He said he would ask the group to examine how to prevent proliferation of gaming, whether the state should control expanded gambling operations, who should manage them and where it should be based.

"The capital was alive today with protests, press conferences, briefings and lobbying as the vote nears on the budget that would spend $11.6 billion over the next two years. The budget, once facing a $600 million deficit over the next two years, has been balanced with a combination of fee and tax increases and spending cuts..."