Connecticut lawmakers are not going to pursue a state study of a proposed third casino.
A motion to refer the bill from the Commerce Committee to the Finance Revenue and Bonding Committee failed Thursday by a vote of 11-7. That vote means the study will not move forward.
Leaders of the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes had urged lawmakers to defeat the bill, predicting it could delay their plans to open a casino in northern Connecticut to compete with a planned $950 million casino in Springfield, Massachusetts. The tribes are still reviewing potential sites.
Democratic Rep. Chris Perone, the committee's co-chairman, was the bill's chief proponent. He argued the proposed study would not affect the tribes' plans, but rather help lawmakers make an informed decision on whether to ultimately approve the casino.
