AUGUSTA (AP) – Without debate, the Senate on Friday sent to the governor a bill calling for a statewide referendum on an Indian-operated racetrack casino in Washington County. But whether voters will get to weigh in on the issue remained unclear.

Gov. John Baldacci said after the Senate’s speedy action that he wants to study the issue in more depth before deciding if he’ll sign the bill.

The Senate’s action lets stand Thursday’s 21-11 enactment vote on racinos. The tally was a tiny fraction short of the two-thirds majority the governor had said was needed to win his signature.

On Friday, Baldacci softened his stand somewhat as he said, “I really have appreciated the overwhelming numbers in the Legislature, both in the House and Senate, in regards to this referendum issue.”

“That’s the kind of support that I had wanted to see when we first began to establish the ground rules for this, having vetoed the last (racino) legislation. I think right now I’m just taking it all into consideration,” the governor said.

Baldacci described the two-thirds minimum he had set as “an arbitrary line,” and said, “I don’t want to argue fractions.”

The proposed racino, if approved by voters, could be located in Calais or Machias, and would include an all-weather harness racing track, as many as 1,500 slots and possibly a high stakes bingo hall and hotel and other facilities.

The Passamaquoddy Tribe would run the horse track, and its proceeds would be distributed to Maine Indian tribes, county development programs and funds benefiting the harness racing industry and college scholarships.

A voter-approved racino is already taking shape in Bangor. Baldacci had said before the legislative votes that he did not see racinos as a preferred economic development strategy for the Down East county.

Others who oppose an expansion of Maine racinos on Friday called upon the governor to veto the bill, saying it’s been debated, voted on, vetoed and defeated.

A previous version, which did not include a referendum provision, was vetoed.

The House, which sustained Baldacci’s veto, had earlier given the bill a better than two-thirds vote of approval.

Valerie Landry of Casinos NO! said proponents kept the newer proposal “on life supports” in hopes of drawing a two-thirds majority.

“Enough is enough,” said Landry. “The governor has said that he will veto the bill unless it gets a two-thirds majority. It has failed to do so.”

A leading racino supporter in the Legislature, Rep. Frederick Moore III of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, said after Friday’s action that he’s pleased with the strong votes of support in the House and Senate.

“The people of Washington County are most appreciative of the support expressed by the Legislature. It was a huge vote in the face of what were seen as insurmountable odds a year ago,” said Moore. “People laughed at the notion.”

AP-ES-06-17-05 1458EDT