A better bet

In regards to the April 27 article on the governor’s veto of the expansion of gaming into Washington County, I am somewhat perplexed by the reasoning for his veto. If gambling is OK in Bangor, which arguably was already the most economically solvent town in the northern or Down East regions of the state, why is it not OK for Washington County, one of the most economically depressed areas in the state?

If our governor finds it so “troubling” that the bill would “expand gambling without the approval of Maine’s citizens,” why is that same logic or criteria not used when the governor and Legislature decide to enact tax increases? An increase on the tobacco taxes is being debated and will result in some sort of increases across the board on tobacco products for the second time in three years, yet the citizenry was not given the opportunity to vote on these tax increases.

The governor used as part of his rationale for the gambling veto that it would “so alter the fabric of the state that all of its citizens, not just the elected members of the legislative and executive branches, deserve an opportunity to be heard.” Do not all tax and fee increases “alter the fabric of the state” and thus deserve to be decided by the citizenry?

And finally, if we have to put all initiatives up for referendum votes after they have already been approved by the elected officials who represent the citizens, then why do we need elected officials? Perhaps within that last question lies the answer to the states continuing fiscal problems: less government and fewer elected officials.

Glenn W. Barnett

Caribou