Medicaid expansion and casino top November ballot questions

Maine voters will face on the November 7 ballot four referendum questions, including citizen's initiatives for Medicaid expansion and a southern Maine casino.

York County casino
Question 1 asks voters: "Do you want to allow a certain company to operate table games and/or slot machines in York County, subject to state and local approval, with part of the profits going to the specific programs described in the initiative?"
The only entity that would be eligible to apply for a slot machine and casino license in York County is Capital Seven LLC, which is owned by developer Shawn Scott and in 2003 owned a majority share of Bangor Historic Track, which later became Hollywood Casino. The initiated bill would raise the cap on the number of slot machines allowed in Maine from 3,000 to 4,500. A total of 39% of the net income from slot machines would be distributed to particular programs outlined in the legislation, including 1% to the tribal governments of the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Penobscot Nation, with the annual revenue for the tribes estimated at $613,047. Efforts by the tribes to establish a casino in Maine had been turned down either by the legislature or by voters statewide for over 20 years. Funds also would go to public education in the state, the community college system, municipalities to reduce property taxes and to drug education initiatives, along with a number of other programs. The casino would generate an estimated $7 million for the state's General Fund annually and $25 million annually for other special funds.
A market feasibility study on expanded gaming in Maine estimated a 20% loss of revenue for the Oxford Casino if a new southern Maine casino were to open, while the impact on Hollywood Casino in Bangor is not expected to be significant.

Medicaid expansion
Question 2 asks: "Do you want Maine to expand Medicaid to provide healthcare coverage for qualified adults under age 65 with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level, which in 2017 means $16,643 for a single person and $22,412 for a family of two?"
If fully implemented, this initiative is expected to require annual appropriations from the state's General Fund of over $54 million, while federal costs would be around $525 million annually. It would expand access to Medicaid for about 70,000 Mainers.
Among those supporting the measure is the Maine Small Business Coalition, which says Medicaid expansion would bring more than $500 million new dollars a year into the state and strengthen Maine's hospitals. Another supporter, Sue Henderson of Mainers for Health Care, writes, "As a nurse, I know that Question 2 will make a real difference for many families who are working hard but still can't afford insurance. Too many Mainers are forced to decide whether they can afford life‑saving healthcare." She states that the expansion would save the state budget $27 million a year, strengthen and fund rural hospitals and community clinics, and help to reduce unnecessary and expensive emergency room visits. She adds, "Those of us on the front lines of healthcare in our communities also know that our state faces a crisis of opioid addiction and overdoses. Leading members of the law enforcement community, nurses, doctors and treatment experts have supported expanding Medicaid and say it is one of the best ways to save lives and reduce substance abuse."
Henderson also states, "Opponents may spread misleading information to make their case, but 31 states have expanded Medicaid and continue to provide coverage citing huge benefits."
Among those opposing Medicaid expansion are two area legislators, Rep. Will Tuell of East Machias and Rep. Lawrence Lockman of Amherst. Tuell argues in an op-ed that opposing Medicaid expansion is "about shielding the state from a minimum cost of $54 million a year that we don't have a way to pay for without reneging on our commitment, our promise, to Maine schoolchildren from Kittery to Cutler  giving them and their families the same chance at getting ahead that they deserve."
In another op-ed, Lockman writes that passage of the Medicaid expansion initiative will cause Maine's elderly and disabled population to "once again be thrown under the bus to make way for legions of pajama‑clad slackers who think the world owes them a living." He adds that "the notion that non‑elderly, non‑disabled adults are going without needed medical care is a crock." Lockman writes, "Let's not throw granny into the snowbank (again) so we can funnel more freebies to non‑citizens and the chain‑smoking, tattooed EBT crowd slouching through the checkout line at the local convenience store."

Transportation bond
Question 3 asks: "Do you favor a $105,000,000 bond issue for construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of highways and bridges and for facilities or equipment related to ports, harbors, marine transportation, freight and passenger railroads, aviation, transit and bicycle and pedestrian trails, to be used to match an estimated $137,000,000 in federal and other funds, and for the upgrade of municipal culverts at stream crossings?"
A total of $20 million of the bond issue would be for multi-modal projects, including ports, with the investment expected to be matched by $49 million in federal, local and private funds. Although no funds are specifically earmarked for Eastport, the port authority could apply for Small Harbor Improvement Program funds or Boating Infrastructure Grants that would be funded through the bond issue.

Constitutional amendment
Question 4 asks: "Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to reduce volatility in state pension funding requirements caused by the financial markets by increasing the length of time over which experience losses are amortized from 10 year to 20 years, in line with pension industry standards?"
According to the Secretary of State's guide to the election, the measure would "lower the amount of funding needed to pay the required employers contributions in years 1 through 10 of any particular experience loss, but increase these payments in years 11 through 20. The amounts involved will depend on the frequency and magnitude of actual losses experienced."