Supporters to seek racino vote With or without governor’s veto

Maine residents will be voting next fall on whether to allow a tribal racetrack with up to 1,500 slot machines in Washington County, if Governor John Baldacci decides not to veto legislation calling for the referendum vote on the measure. If he does veto the bill, then supporters of the proposal will begin a petition drive for a referendum vote the following year on not just a racino but a racetrack and a casino in Washington County. Baldacci was expected to make a decision within next few days.

Passamaquoddy Rep. Fred Moore III and Senator Kevin Raye (R-Perry) filed the referendum legislation immediately after the governor's veto on June 9 of the earlier bill for the tribal racino. The second bill was identical to the first, except it added the requirement for a referendum vote. It was passed in the Senate on June 17 by a vote of 21-11. The legislation won final approval in the House earlier in the week by a vote of 97-48.

Baldacci had indicated that if the bill received two-thirds support in both houses he would not veto the measure. The 21-11 vote in the Senate, at 65.6%, was just shy of the two-thirds, or 66.7%, that was sought. Moore, though, believes that, in following legislative precedent, the vote should be considered as constituting two-thirds of the members voting. "Next time, I guess we'd have to get a unanimous vote," he says of the additional hurdles the effort for a racino has been asked to meet.

Moore believes that Mainers are not opposed to gambling, and he notes that the state government is "heavily involved in" gambling through the state lottery. Maine residents are opposed to a large casino in southern Maine, and state government is opposed to competition, he believes. However, the legislature has now twice enacted bills for a tribal racetrack with slot machines. But even with that substantial legislative support, more is being sought by the Baldacci administration.

"We've bent over backwards in a partnership," he says of efforts to work with the governor. "I feel like the circus dog jumping through the hoops in a dog and pony show."

Action plan for economic development
In vetoing the legislation, Governor Baldacci reiterated his strong opposition to the expansion of casino gambling as an economic development tool in Maine. "To many, this may not be a popular decision, but I need to follow my conscience. Expansion of gambling will not improve the aspirations or opportunities of Maine people," said the governor. "The social and economic costs are too great. Investing in our people C not slot machines C will lead to good paying jobs with benefits. This remains my strategy for all of Maine. Investing in our economy will continue to make Maine more competitive and improve our economic health."

Governor Baldacci also announced that David Flanagan will act as his personal representative to implement an action plan to expedite economic development in Washington County. "David brings a private sector perspective and commitment to Maine to the table. His mission is goal-orientated and results-driven."

Baldacci said he will meet by the end of June with representatives of Washington County business, labor and education sectors as well as community leaders. The governor asked a senior member of the Washington County legislative delegation, Rep. Ed Dugay (D-Cherryfield), and former Republican Senator Kevin Shorey to help him pull together a working team.

Senator Raye, though, was not impressed with the announcement. "The governor's statement does little to deflect attention away from the fact that, after two and a half years of inaction on our economic development needs, his veto dealt a painful setback to Washington County's homegrown effort to create jobs and opportunity. Given that, it is ironic that the governor has now designated a prominent supporter of CasinosNO as his 'personal representative' to Downeast Maine."

"On one hand, the governor denounces gambling and dismisses the benefit of the jobs and economic expansion in our tourism and agriculture sectors that would have resulted from the racino," Raye says. "On the other hand, he brought Powerball to the state, and recently told a delegation of Washington County citizens that they should be pleased that Bangor will reap an economic benefit from a racino."

Moore says that, while opponents have focused on the gambling at slot machines, over 50% of the projected revenue generated by the racino proposal would be from non-gambling sources, including tourism, entertainment, a convention center and hotel and a year-round racetrack. Activities would range from national snowmobile events to concerts in the summer, he says.

Baldacci's action to veto the Washington County proposal came after the Maine Legislature passed the bill by a vote of 19-15 in the Senate and 87-46 in the House of Representatives.

If Baldacci does not veto the bill calling for a referendum vote, the law that voters would be asked to approve is modeled closely on existing Maine law governing the Bangor racino. It would provide monies to the state's general fund, as well as other accounts including the Fund for Healthy Maine, and the state's agricultural fairs. It would also direct a portion of racino revenue to the Washington County Development Authority, vocational education for Washington County high school students, and scholarships for students at the University of Maine at Machias, Washington County Community College and the Unobskey School.