Senator Bonacic Will Chair Judiciary and Racing, Gaming & Wagering Committees

BONACIC WILL CHAIR JUDICIARY AND RACING, GAMING & WAGERING COMMITTEES

Also Named to Senate Finance, Rules and Six Other Committees

State Senator John Bonacic (R/C/I – Mt. Hope) will continue to Chair two State Senate Committees for the 2013/2014 State Senate Session.  Committee assignments for the Senate were released Thursday evening (January 24, 2012) by Senate Leaders Dean Skelos and Jeff Klein.

Bonacic will Chair the Senate Judiciary Committee, as well as the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming & Wagering.   He will also serve on the following Senate Committees:

*          Finance;

*          Rules;

*          Housing, Construction, and Community Development;

*          Mental Health;

*          Alcoholism and Drug Abuse;

*          Children and Families;

*          Banks; and

*          Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation. 

“I am very pleased to be Chair of these two key committees.  In the Judiciary Committee, we will be leading the confirmations over the next few months for two Justices on the State’s highest Court – the Court of Appeals, as well as advancing the Constitutional Amendment for gaming for the second time, as is Constitutionally required.”

“With respect to Racing, Gaming & Wagering Committee, I am hopeful this will finally be the year that gaming can come to the Catskills.  We have any number of potential locations I would be interested in seeing gaming at, including the Concord, the Nevele, Grossingers in Liberty and potentially other sites.” 

Casinos in the Catskills have been talked about for decades.  Last year, both the Senate and Assembly passed a Constitutional Amendment to enable up to seven casinos across the State.   If the Constitutional Amendment is passed this year by the Senate and Assembly, voters will have to approve the same in November.  Thereafter, licenses for up to 7 facilities can be issued.  

Bonacic was appointed to Chair both Committees as part of a bi-partisan coalition which runs the Senate.  “I appreciate the confidence of Senate Leaders Klein and Skelos.   We have many issues to address this year in Albany, and gaming is only one of them, but I think Chairing these two committees, while also serving on the Rules and Finance Committees, puts our Senate District in a good place to help influence the major issues the Senate, Assembly, and Governor will be addressing this year,” concluded Senator Bonacic.  

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