Tribal slots measure gets House approval

A tribal racetrack casino in Washington County won initial approval in the Maine House on Tuesday, although it fell just short of the two-thirds support needed to override a possible veto from Gov. John Baldacci.

The 94-53 vote came after an hour-long debate in Augusta, where the bill – despite the strong House support – faces an uncertain future, with Maine’s Democratic governor indicating Tuesday he was “strongly considering a veto.”

Officially, administration officials were leaving their options open while awaiting the final legislative action on the bill, LD 1573, which would allow the Passamaquoddy Tribe to operate as many as 1,500 slots at a new harness racing track near their reservations in eastern Maine.

“[Baldacci] continues to object to any further gambling in the state, and if it reaches his desk he will deal with it,” said Lynn Kippax, the governor’s press secretary.

The House is scheduled to reconsider the matter today. The bill then will move to the Senate, where a vote also is likely today.

Tuesday’s House debate featured supporters touting the plan as an economic boon to Washington County, where jobless and poverty rates are double statewide averages.

“Give us the opportunity to pull ourselves out of this quagmire,” said Rep. Anne Perry, D-Calais, whose home city is a possible destination for the tribal racino.

“We are looking for our own solutions,” she said.

Opponents, however, said Washington County never would realize the promises of economic prosperity from a casino, which instead would lead to social and financial ills.

“[This plan] is preying on people who are desperate, and they’re hoping that in that desperation they will give them this,” said Rep. Robert Daigle, R-Arundel. “This is not a racetrack with a casino, it’s a casino with horse manure.”

Other opponents warned against expanding gambling to other parts of the state before the opening of a $30 million facility planned for Bangor – the only city now eligible to host the 1,500 slot machines allowed under state law.

“I’m sympathetic with my friends in Washington County,” said Rep. Pat Blanchette, D-Bangor, who instead urged residents there to support a liquefied natural gas plant proposed for the region. “That’s real money. This is a hit-and-miss that’s going to antagonize people all over the place.”

Blanchette had supported the plan in an initial committee vote, but changed her position after the Portland-based Casinos No! threatened to lend its financial resources to a struggling effort to outlaw all slots in the state should the Washington County effort win approval in Augusta.

Bangor’s delegation was divided on the matter, with Rep. Sean Faircloth, D-Bangor, supporting the plan. He rejected opponents’ claims that, by allowing another racetrack casino in Washington County, the Legislature was undermining the will of voters, who had approved slots only at existing tracks.

“We are the primary deciders of public policy, and if we choose to do this in a deliberative process then we should,” said Faircloth, further arguing that the remote location would be conducive to making the new facility a tourist destination.

While Faircloth and the majority of lawmakers appear to support the measure, it’s unlikely to find a friend in Baldacci, based on his latest statements.

Despite recent warnings of a veto, the bill’s sponsor, Passamaquoddy Rep. Fred Moore, said he hoped the governor would equally weigh other options.

“We’re just going to concentrate on sending him a good bill,” Moore said.