State Sen. Richard Ross Named to Gaming Conference Committee

Wrentham State Sen. Richard Ross has been named to the committee charged with ironing out the differences between the house and senate versions of the casino gaming bill.

Ross' office announced this week that he had been named to the gaming conference committee. The proposed bill includes three resort casinos and a slot parlor.

Ross said on Thursday that there was some negotiation to be done.

"There are some differences between the house and senate versions of the bill, notably tax rates, that I think need to be addressed," he said. "We certainly want to make sure that the communities that are affected get compensated."

He said, though, there are commonalities.

"As far as the main thrust of the bill, I think there's agreement," he said.

Ross said he believed the committee will start meeting next week, and would hopefully move quickly to an agreeable solution.

This is not the first time a local legislator was part of the gaming debate. State Rep. Daniel Winslow (R-Norfolk) proposed a (later accepted) .