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Keller @ Large: What Have State Lawmakers Accomplished This Session?

BOSTON (CBS) - State lawmakers are now in recess for the holidays until the end of the year.

What have they accomplished so far this session?

CASINO BILL

Last year, Gov. Deval Patrick vetoed a casino bill that would have approved slot parlors and kickbacks for racetracks.

The bill he's expected to sign this week allows for one slot parlor and a significant chunk of the revenue stream from casinos to the race horse industry. Did he cave in this time around?

Watch Part 1:

"I think (cave) is way overstating it... I think what really happened here is he called the shots. He was opposed to two or more slot parlors," Craig Sandler, general manager of Statehouse News Services. "(House Speaker Robert) DeLeo wanted a lot more casinos and a lot more slot machines than we're getting.

"And in fact, that bill went down the first time because of Patrick's insistence that it be very limited. What we're getting in terms of casinos and slot machines is darn limited. So, I actually see it more as DeLeo kowtowing to Patrick," Sandler continued.

ON GOV. PATRICK

Patrick has done a lot while in office, but some fear he may be a bit distracted over the second half of his term as governor while he campaigns for President Obama's reelection and writes another book.

"I think that he's not doing anything that the people who elected him, the majority who elected him, didn't want him to do," said Sandler. "So, he has the right to pursue his agenda."

Watch Part 2:

"And, I would also point out, that he's on track to doing something that his predecessors have just failed to do: and that is actually serve eight years. Get elected to two terms, and serve out two terms - if he does that, it will actually be an accomplishment," Sandler continued, adding that he's convinced Gov. Patrick will stay in office for all eight years.

"I challenge anybody to refute this: he's the most successful governor since Bill Weld," said Sandler.

You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.

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