Tribe to use bill defeat as learning tool

Penobscot Indian Nation Chief Kirk Francis said the tribe will use the defeat of the Passamaquoddy tribe’s racino initiative as a learning tool.

The Penobscots have their own bill currently in the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee that would allow them to operate 400 slot machines at Indian Island’s high-stakes bingo hall.

“What we’re learning is the no’s really do a better job in terms of getting out to vote,” he said Wednesday in a phone interview.

The Penobscots’ bill was submitted during the last legislative session and was carried over.

Sponsored by Donna Loring, the Penobscots’ representative to the Legislature, the bill would allow the operation of 400 slot machines subject to regulation by the Gambling Control Board.

One percent of gross slot machine income would be distributed to the Treasurer of State for deposit in the General Fund, with the Penobscots retaining the net slot machine income.

As polls conducted before Tuesday’s vote showed, there were many people in favor of the Passamaquoddy initiative, but they apparently didn’t make it to the voting booths, Francis said.

“I think the no’s are more passionate about opposing it than a lot of Mainers who are really OK with it being in Maine,” Francis said.

The fact that 2007 was an off election year with no major state or national elections also made a difference, he said.

“We really need to get these referendums in when there’s a general election going on nationwide,” Francis said. “These off-year elections haven’t proved to be too good.”

Tuesday’s vote didn’t convince the chief that Mainers are against all gambling.

“I think the polling today would still show that project being ahead,” he said, referring to the Passamaquoddy measure that failed. “It was a matter of voter turnout in this case.”

The Penobscots supported the Passamaquoddy tribe in its endeavor, and Francis said he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t disappointed.

“It’s discouraging and I feel bad for the Passamaquoddys,” he said. “I think they had a real opportunity there that’s gotten missed.”

Moving forward, Francis said it’s time for the tribes to do a better job at educating voters that there’s no boogie man in the closet.

“We need to do a better job of keeping the Dennis Baileys in the world accountable for the statements they make,” Francis said, referring to the head of CasinosNO!, a group opposed to casino gambling in Maine. “The haves in the state of Maine have launched a propaganda campaign against the project and unfortunately, they don’t get held accountable for their statements. They get hired to do this and they’ve done a good job at getting this information out whether it’s right or correct or not, and it’s worked.”

Bailey said Wednesday that CasinosNO! may consider going against the Penobscots’ bill, but currently the group has no immediate plans to move in that direction.

“I think it will be interesting to see what the Legislature does with that bill,” Bailey said. “I think this was a vote against more slot machines in Maine. I think the voters have spoken, so I think it would be a mistake to give more slot machines to any group.”

The Penobscots intend to continue with their bill, LD 701, which Francis said is very different from what the Passamaquoddy tribe proposed.

“We’re not tied to a commercial track. We’re not asking for 1,500 machines,” Francis said. “It’s just really a tool to support the existing gaming facility that we have there now.”

Organizations such as the Maine People’s Alliance that supported the referendum also are upset with the result.

“The tribe should have full decision over what types of economic development issues they pursue,” Adam Goode, the alliance’s community organizer, said Wednesday. “We think the Passamaquoddy tribe should be able to pursue whatever economic development opportunities [they choose].”