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BOSTON, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a bill making casino gambling legal in the state. Patrick, who pushed for the gambling legislation for its job-creating potential, signed the measure Tuesday, The Boston Globe reported.
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"I never have had a moral objection to gambling," Patrick said at the signing at the Capitol in Boston. "I respect those who have a moral objection, but I am not one of them.''
Patrick's support for legalization of casinos and slot machine parlors doesn't sit well with some of his supporters.
"It is a sad story," former state Sen. Susan Tucker of Andover said. "The first I heard that he was considering casinos was on my car radio. I nearly drove off the road.
"This seems so much in conflict with everything he stood for when he first ran."
Former Gov. Michael Dukakis expressed disappointment, though he is willing to cut Patrick some slack.
"You don't expect to agree with everything the guy does," Dukakis said.
"We are disappointed, but I did things my supporters weren't happy about. On the whole, he has been a good governor. ... I am a big fan of what the governor has done on the economic scene. He should be proud of it.''
