Racino bill remains in limbo

Thursday, June 23, 2005 | 9:04 a.m.

AUGUSTA, Maine -- The watch continued Wednesday for supporters and opponents of a statewide referendum on an Indian-operated racetrack casino in Washington County.

A measure calling for a November vote on the proposal was sent last Friday to Gov. John Baldacci, who vetoed a similar bill without a referendum provision and whose leanings now remain under close scrutiny.

"I've heard totally opposite stories," said gaming critic Valerie Landry, a spokeswoman for Casinos NO!. "What's a little perplexing is to know why he's waiting."

Baldacci had linked acceptance of the new measure to super majority thresholds of two-thirds in the Legislature. The Senate's enactment vote was just short, 21-11.

The governor's statement that "I don't want to argue fractions" has left both sides claiming the legislative voting went their way.

"He said at least two-thirds," Landry asserted.

"I understood he was satisfied with the vote, that it was a significant vote," said a leading racino supporter in the Legislature, Rep. Frederick Moore III of the Passamaquoddy Tribe.

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