House approves casino vote

Friday, May 30, 2003 | 9:54 a.m.

AUGUSTA, Maine -- The Maine House voted Thursday to let Mainers decide in November whether a casino should be built in southern Maine.

By an 85-55 tally, representatives voted against passing a citizen-initiated bill authorizing Maine's Penobscot and Passamaquoddy Indians to build a $650 million gambling casino, deciding instead to send the question to referendum.

Senate consideration was pending.

The two Indian tribes plan to present a preliminary plan for the casino resort by mid-July.

The Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribes are continuing their negotiations with land owners near Sanford Regional Airport, where they hope to locate the new casino.

Las Vegas developer Marnell Corrao Associates is backing the project and would build the casino.

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