|
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
Don't revise racino law, Mainers say
Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. | ||||||
 |
Related Story: Downs' plea for extension finds support Also on this page: In Depth: Gambling in Maine | |||||
Poll results released Tuesday show opposition to legislators tinkering with the racino law approved by voters in November. In a statewide telephone poll of 400 adults from Jan. 16 to 18, nearly 61 percent said the citizen initiative should stay in effect as passed. Thirty-three percent said the Legislature should amend the new law as it sees fit, and 6 percent said they did not know. The results should send a message to Gov. John Baldacci and legislators who are trying to amend the law, said Tom Smith, whose group, Citizens Committee for the Revitalization of the Historic Bangor Raceway, commissioned the poll. "What is proposed by the governor is completely rewriting the bill, which has nothing to do with what we voted on in November," he said. The poll was done for Smith's committee by Portland-based Strategic Marketing Services. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percent. "It was about the citizen initiative process. That's what the folks came to us with, asking us to do a poll about the process," said Patrick Murphy, president of the polling firm. "It wasn't a poll about 'do you favor or oppose racinos or casinos.' " The Legislature is considering various changes to the racino law, which allowed slot machines at the state's commercial racetracks as long as voters in the host communities gave their approval by the end of 2003. Suggestions include imposing tougher regulations proposed by Gov. John Baldacci, allowing more time for Scarborough Downs to find a site for a racino, and forcing Bangor to reopen its search for a racino operator. Smith's group, whose members are from the Bangor area, has taken out newspaper and TV ads opposing any changes to the law. Racino developer Shawn Scott has contributed an undisclosed amount to the committee because he agrees with its message, said his spokeswoman, Christen Graham. Scott's attorneys drafted the November referendum question, and his companies contributed $1.5 million during the campaign. Scott owns Bangor Historic Track, the company that runs harness races at the city-owned track in Bangor. He is selling his stock to Penn National Gaming. The sale agreement is worded so that major changes to the racino law could nullify the deal or reduce its value, Graham said. Staff Writer Grace Murphy can be contacted at 791-6383 or at: gmurphy@pressherald.com
|
||||||
