Edict puts slots on fast track Baldacci to sign bill to speed process today

BANGOR – Gov. John Baldacci will sign an executive order this morning aimed at speeding the arrival of slot machines to the city by creating an interim panel to start crafting needed rules for the new gambling industry.

The governor’s edict could move up the debut of slots at Bangor Raceway by several weeks by allowing his new advisory panel to begin the work of the Gambling Control Board, charged with writing a host of new licensing rules for the industry.

Without the executive order work on the new rules likely would not begin for several months until the Senate could confirm the governor’s five nominees to the gambling board.

The members of the advisory panel would not require Senate confirmation.

“This puts the racino on the fast track,” said Baldacci spokesman Lee Umphrey, adding the governor’s reasons for entertaining the early start were twofold. “Partially the governor wants to quash the perception he has been trying to stop this, but mostly it’s because he’s comfortable with the regulations we have in place and that it will be done the right way.”

After a breakfast meeting at Husson College this morning, Baldacci will sign the executive order as well as the underlying bill, LD 1820, which imposes strict new regulations on the industry. Voters in a November referendum initially allowed slots at the state’s harness racing tracks.

The governor’s support for LD 1820, which includes a hefty new tax added in the last days of the legislative session, had come under fire by some in the harness racing industry.

In a series of newspaper, television and radio advertisements, a horseman’s group blamed Baldacci for the new tax, which sparked talk of the Bangor project’s developer, Penn National Gaming, backing out of its $30 million deal with the city.

Baldacci did not take a public stance on the new tax designed to cover state administrative costs – estimated at $3 million a year – for the new industry. Industry officials called the new tax excessive as it was expected to net the state more than $8 million a year once the Bangor facility reaches its capacity of 1,500 machines.

Denise McNitt of the Maine Harness Horseman’s Association, the group that ran the ads, said Tuesday she was unsure the governor’s attempt to speed the process would be successful.

“I would be surprised,” McNitt said, noting the state had a Sept. 30 deadline to issue a gaming license. “Everything still depends on Penn, and obviously we all hope they will go ahead with the project.”

Company officials remained tight-lipped Wednesday about the plans for Bangor, the only site in the state eligible for slots under the new law.

“We’re still working through some of the issues,” said Penn spokesman Eric Schippers.

While those in the struggling harness racing industry see their share of slots revenue as a potential savior, city officials see theirs – estimated at between $2 million and $3 million – as a way to replace the aging Bangor Auditorium.

Bangor Mayor Dan Tremble on Wednesday praised the governor’s attempt to begin the process earlier rather than wait for the Senate to confirm his nominees to the Gambling Control Board.

“Let’s get this thing going,” said Tremble, noting city residents’ continued support for the project. “I think it’s at a point with people where even if they were against it, now they’re willing to give it a shot.”