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Maine: Casino supporters have enough signatures for referendum
Bangor Daily News ^ | 28 December 2002

Posted on 12/28/2002 12:21:49 AM PST by SheLion

ALFRED — AP — Supporters of a proposal to build a $650 million casino in southern Maine have enough signatures to put the matter on a statewide ballot, according to a lawyer for the two Indian tribes pursuing the project.

 More than 50,000 signatures have been collected so far, and more than half already have been validated, said Erin Lehane, an attorney for the tribes and spokeswoman for the Think About It political action committee. The deadline for turning over signatures to the secretary of state’s office for consideration for the 2003 ballot is Jan. 23.

Signatures must first be validated by town clerks, then reaffirmed by the secretary of state. “Technically, we’ve qualified and we’ll be collecting for another couple of weeks,” she said Tuesday. Supporters say the casino would produce $50 million a year in much-needed income for the Penobscot Nation and the Passamaquoddy Tribe and generate $75 million in state gaming taxes and $20 million for state and local governments.

Opponents contend casino gambling, which is currently illegal in Maine, would lead to more crime, cause gambling addiction and hurt established businesses. Before the proposal can make it onto the ballot, it faced a hearing Friday in York County Superior Court on a challenge to its wording. Opponents say the wording suggests gambling revenues would be funneled to specific purposes like property tax relief. Rep. Mary Black Andrews, R-York, said the question is misleading because it would take an amendment to the Maine Constitution stipulating that revenues would go to specific purposes. “You cannot obligate the Legislature from year to year to do anything,” she said. “You have to put it in the constitution.”


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Culture/Society; Government; US: Maine
KEYWORDS: casino; jobs; reservation
Maybe some of the 1,800 jobless can get a job at the casino!

Opponents contend casino gambling, which is currently illegal in Maine, would lead to more crime, cause gambling addiction and hurt established businesses.

How can it hurt???? And crime happens everywhere. Gambling addiction? I know a gal in northern Maine who is addicted to gambling and she flies to New Jersey a lot! Having a casino in Maine can only help, not hurt.

Go ahead......flame away!

1 posted on 12/28/2002 12:21:50 AM PST by SheLion
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To: Madame Dufarge; metesky; ozone1; pkmaine; Atomic Vomit; ROCKLOBSTER; mlmr; bogeybob; BM.Maine; ...

2 posted on 12/28/2002 12:22:28 AM PST by SheLion
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To: SheLion
Its like inviting the mafia into your living room. Here in wisconsin, we've watched gambling grow to a billion dollar industry. The only new business it attracts is pawn shops.
Now the reservations are using that money to influence politicians as they ask for ever longer and more lucrative compacts. God knows my admiration for you is endless, but you may want to rethink your stance on allowing gambling in Maine.

Sorry, that's my best flame (-:
3 posted on 12/28/2002 5:20:03 AM PST by damncat
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To: SheLion
said Erin Lehane, an attorney for the tribes and spokeswoman for the Think About It political action committee.

You can't swing a dead cat in Maine without hitting a Lehane, can you?

4 posted on 12/28/2002 5:25:26 AM PST by Trust but Verify
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To: SheLion
Here is the website of nocasinoerie.org which is opposed to casino gambling in Buffalo New York.
5 posted on 12/28/2002 5:18:36 PM PST by ganesha
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To: SheLion
Some of the questions you need to ask are:

How is the casino being financed? Who is lending the money and at what rate of interest?
In Buffalo, the Seneca indians have agreed to borrow money from a Malaysian billionaire at thirty percent interest. It is hard to see how they can afford this.

Are all of the relevant laws being followed regarding how a casino should be approved at both the state and federal levels? In New York, Governor Pataki chose to ignore the indian gaming regulatory act, which is the law which is supposed to govern federal approval of casinos on indian land and instead use the Seneca settlement act which was never intended to deal with casino gambling. Interior secretary Gale Norton reluctantly went along with this but seemed to imply that it was illegal and that she was only giving in under political pressure.

How is the state going to regulate what goes on in the casinos? What labor laws will apply? Will there be conflicts between the state and the tribe over issues like native sovereignty?

Is the casino going to be in a rural area, or near a city like Portland? Who will provide and pay for roads, parking, police protection and the fire department? If the state is collecting tax revenue, what portion of that revenue is going to reimburse the town or city government for costs associated with the casino? In New York the state takes the lion's share. Is the casino going on land which is already indian land, or do they need to invent a reservation? If they are creating a reservation, how much will this cost the tax base?

How many of the gamblers will be tourists and how many will be locals? Will the casino include restaurants and entertainment inside it so that people don't venture outside? What will be the effect on nearby restaurants, bars etc? Will the casino enhance the local business community or just become a black hole? Which politicians are supporting the casino and how are they being rewarded for their support?

6 posted on 12/28/2002 5:54:02 PM PST by ganesha
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To: ganesha
There was a documentary about a casino tonight on TV. I didn’t catch where it is, because I came in late. But the casino has generated MILLIONS of dollars! They have millions of dollars in “storage.” More money even then the deficit in Maine! The state has balanced it budget and still has money left over. I wish I knew what state this is, but they are doing GREAT!
7 posted on 12/28/2002 6:22:03 PM PST by SheLion
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To: SheLion
I signed that petition, because I think that if handled correctly, a casino in Maine could be a good thing.

It would get more tourism here, and without tourism rev, we are up the creek without a paddle! If some of the money went to the state, so much the better. God knows we need money. It won't turn into Las Vegas, or anything, no one wants to vacation in the freezing cold:) I know tons of people that go down to Foxwoods and spend money all the time--imagine how much better it would be for the state to keep these people and their money in Maine?

8 posted on 12/30/2002 6:04:48 PM PST by Morrigan
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To: SheLion
But the casino has generated MILLIONS of dollars!

Personally, I'm always skeptical about making the leap from generating MILLIONS of $$$ == happiness.

Most states have a lottery under the banner that the proceeds go to the schools. Yet look at the appalling state of education today. I don't think the answer is appealing to "get rich quick" desires in people. The answer is to stimulate the economy, lower taxes thereby encourage growth.

I just don't believe that a Casino would be managed properly - yet another layer of Government bureaucracy would be needed to watch over the Casino and mysteriously the projected $$$ income would never appear -- it would simply be recycled to sustain this knew bureaucracy -- just like the money for the schools with the state lotteries.

I see it as a quick fix solution with good intentions that will cause long term problems.

9 posted on 12/30/2002 6:21:42 PM PST by MrsEmmaPeel
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