House backs statewide vote on racino

By MARK PETERS, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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In Depth: Gambling Visit our In Depth: Gambling section for background news stories and voice your opinions and thoughts in the poll. MAINE VOTES ON GAMBLING 1980: Shall slot machine ban become law? Yes: 60,757 No: 37,406 2000: Do you want to allow video lottery machines at certain horse racing tracks if 40% of the profits are used for property tax relief?" Yes: 253,920 No: 387,872 2003: Do you want to allow slot machines at certain commercial horse racing tracks if part of the proceeds are used to lower prescription drug costs for the elderly and disabled, and for scholarships to the state universities and technical colleges? Yes: 272,394 No: 242,490 2003: Do you want to allow a casino to be run by the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Penobscot Nation if part of the revenue is used for state education and municipal revenue sharing? Yes: 170,500 No: 346,583 To top of story

AUGUSTA — Maine's House of Representatives wants voters to decide whether slot machines can spin in Washington County, pushing the state toward a fall referendum on the expansion of legal gambling.

House members voted 97-40 on Monday to hold a referendum in November on a proposal by Maine's American Indian tribes to open a harness racing track Down East with as many as 1,500 slot machines. The Senate is expected to vote on the proposed referendum today.

The issue of gambling, harness racing and the tribes is familiar to Maine voters. In 2003, they rejected plans for a $650 million casino that would have been run by the Penobscots and Passamaquoddies in Sanford, but approved slot machines at the state's commercial racetracks.

The idea for another statewide vote emerged as supporters of a racino in Washington County worked to salvage their proposal last week after Gov. John Baldacci vetoed a bill that would have allowed a racino without a referendum. Lawmakers failed to override his veto.

The House resurrected the racino proposal on Monday, approving a referendum with more than a two-thirds majority. Legislative leaders said the proposal has growing support in the Senate. And the Baldacci administration is not working against the tribes and Washington County leaders. The governor says he won't try to stop a referendum if the Senate also passes it by a two-thirds majority.

The proposal did trigger an hour-long debate in the House, where opponents called a new gambling referendum unneeded and potentially polarizing.

Rep. Robert Daigle, R-Arundel, said the campaign for a racino in Washington County could split the state and unfairly characterize the issue as southern Maine versus northern and eastern Maine.

"It will result in hard feelings in the state that will last for many years to come," Daigle said.

Opponents also are upset that the proposal has re-emerged as a ballot question. Racino supporters who want a vote should go through the process of collecting more than 50,000 signatures, as past pro-gambling groups did, they said.

"We have a last-minute attempt . . . to override our actions," said Rep. Kevin Glynn, R-South Portland.

But supporters of the racino proved to be more convincing when it came time to vote.

Some lawmakers repeated claims that a racino would bring money and economic development to the tribes and one of the state's poorest counties. They noted that people in Maine and the Canadian Maritimes go to Connecticut's tribal casinos, Atlantic City, N.J., and Las Vegas to gamble, instead of spending their money in Maine.

Some lawmakers who voted against the racino earlier supported the referendum plan. One, House Majority Leader Glenn Cummings, D-Portland, said the referendums in 2003 gave an unclear picture of how Mainers feel about gambling, so lawmakers need to ask again.

"Because it is not clear what the Maine people want, it makes sense to consult with them," Cummings said.

Lee Umphrey, an aide to the governor, said Monday's vote shows that the House has the super-majority Baldacci wanted to see. The governor now will watch the Senate vote. Umphrey declined to say whether Baldacci will veto the referendum bill if it doesn't win a two-thirds majority in the Senate today.