Lawmakers hear public on racino bill

Francis X. Quinn

Friday, Jan. 9, 2004 | 9:15 a.m.

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Gov. John Baldacci's proposal to revamp gambling regulations and establish new oversight of racinos in Maine came up for public comment Wednesday at a legislative committee hearing, marking the first step on what the governor hopes will be an accelerated track to passage.

"The centerpiece is a gambling control board, a five-person board," gubernatorial legal counsel Kurt Adams told members of the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee and an overflow crowd of spectators and others offering testimony on the measure.

Less than a month ago, Baldacci and eight leaders of the Legislature signed off on a letter to a variety of players in the racino debate, vowing to retroactively amend the citizen initiative approved by voters in November to allow slot machine gambling at harness racing tracks.

"While legislative leadership and the governor intend to abide by the will of the public, we do not believe that the regulatory oversight, licensing and other provisions of the initiated bill protect the public health, welfare or safety of the state of Maine," the governor and lawmakers wrote.

"Amending, repealing or altering an initiated bill is not trivial for public officials," they wrote. "However, we believe that the initiated bill must be enhanced to protect the interest of the people of the state of Maine."

Adams reiterated Wednesday that Baldacci's proposal is designed to follow the intent of the voters.

At the same time, however, he listed what the governor and other proponents of the measure believe to be weaknesses in the legislation that was enacted by referendum.

Asserting that the voter-approved initiative would set no limit on the permissible number of slot machines, the administration is seeking to establish a process for determining how many would be appropriate.

Arguing that the citizen initiative would cost the state general fund more than it would generate in revenue, the administration also wants to ensure the state is compensated for oversight expenses.

Currently, Capital Seven LLC, owned by Shawn Scott, has a contract to open a racino in Bangor. The Maine Harness Racing Commission has been taking testimony in its review of Scott's request for a racing license. Scott, however, agreed Thursday to sell the track.

Scott and his company organized and paid for the referendum campaign to allow slot machines at commercial racetracks.

Sharon Terry, owner of Scarborough Downs, has said she wants the Legislature to loosen restrictions on where a racino can be located and when local communities can hold referendums on whether to allow them.

Casinos No!, organized to oppose new gambling projects in Maine, has suggested bringing the racino question back to voters for reconsideration.

"Since there seems to be a lot of confusion and disagreement over what the voters meant, let's do something really radical and ask them," Casinos No! spokesman Dennis Bailey said Wednesday in a statement prepared for the committee hearing.