Things were supposed to change when Thomas Finneran left the Massachusetts House.

The Boston Democrat controlled all legislation in his nine years as speaker, deciding which bills would be voted and which ones wouldn't, usurping budget authority from the other 159 representatives and punishing anyone who challenged him.

After Finneran stepped down, new Speaker Sal DiMasi vowed to oversee a more open House, one that would allow all lawmakers to have a say on issues before the state. And for first few months of his tenure, the atmosphere seemed to change on Beacon Hill.

There are signs, however, that Di-Masi is falling short on that promise.

A bill that would allow slot machines at the state's four dog and horse racing tracks may be in danger of dying because DiMasi and one of his committee chairmen won't release the bill for a vote before the current legislative session ends Nov. 16. The bill has already been backed by the Senate in a 26-9 vote. And state Rep. Brian Wallace, D-South Boston, says at least 90 of the 160 House members support the legislation.

However, state Rep. Daniel Bosley, D-North Adams, a longtime opponent of legalized gambling, is chairman of one of the committees reviewing the bill and has thus far declined to release it for a vote.

And a spokesman for DiMasi said the speaker has other priorities to deal with before the Legislature disbands and he is making no promises that a vote will be taken.

This is frustrating for local lawmakers who don't want to wait until 2006 on an issue that has lingered over the Legislature for years.

It's frustrating for the operators of Plainridge Racecourse in Plainville, who are seeking permission for the slot machines. The harness racing track has seen gambling revenue disappear to Connecticut casinos and, especially, to Lincoln Park in Rhode Island, where slot machines are a big draw.

And it's frustrating for officials in Plainville and other communities which play host to tracks. The arrival of slot machines will have a major impact on their fi-nances and public safety, and they need to get ready.

We urge DiMasi and Bosley to drop their Finneran-like hold on the slot machine-track bill and allow a House vote on it.

Majority rule should always prevail.