Maine lawmakers back down

Maine legislators voted to find another solution to the state’s budget woes when the legislature’s Appropriations Committee voted 12-1 Tuesday against a measure to increase the state’s share of slots revenues, a plan that would have taken money away from the racino operator and horsemen’s purses.

Diane Perkins helped organize a rally at the Maine statehouse to protest the state’s proposed change in policy. “The Governor had a budget, then it got turned over to the two parties to decide how to come up with the shortage. Both the Republicans and Democrats were coming after the racino money because they needed to balance the budget,” said Perkins. “We had about 150 trucks and trailers show up to protest.”

Perkins said she believes the legislators finally changed their tact because of public pressure. “Basically, the community came to see this as the state making a deal with a business and then reneging,” she said. “Pat Blanchette, a state legislator and Bangor City Council member, spoke against the state’s plans.”

Penn National Gaming, which operates the Hollywood Slots facility at Bangor Raceway, brought its pressure to bear by stopping construction on its $131 million expansion project in Bangor. Presenting Hollywood Slots has 475 machines; the expansion would allow for 1,500 machines.

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