AUGUSTA — Lawmakers are giving a variety of explanations for voting to support the Legislature’s direct authorization of a Biddeford racino and partner facility in Washington County, despite voting against a proposed 1,500-slot-machine facility planned for Lewiston’s Bates Mill No. 5.
Two explanations have not been given: money and politics.
Both factors could determine whether the Legislature approves the projects, and more importantly, whether either has enough momentum to budge Gov. Paul LePage from his vow to veto any gambling proposal that isn’t decided by Maine voters.
The governor this week reiterated his plan to reject both Biddeford and Lewiston facilities if the Legislature sends the projects to his desk.
Stavros Mendros, a stakeholder in the Lewiston project, has said his organization has no problem going to a November referendum, but only if the same fate awaits Biddeford.
Biddeford has considerably more muscle than Lewiston, including a seven-month lobbying effort by stakeholders that’s racing toward $100,000.
If Biddeford proponents reach that threshold, it could outspend big tobacco this session.
The two firms lobbying for the Lewiston project have spent a combined $3,000 through April, according to the latest lobbyist disclosure reports.
Biddeford is also supported by Senate President Kevin Raye, R-Perry. Many believe Raye harbors higher political ambitions, potentially in the Second Congressional District, a seat he nearly took in 2002 after losing by 4 percentage points to U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine.
Raye was unavailable for comment Friday. However, his impassioned Senate floor speech in support of legislative authorization for the Biddeford-Washington project was striking, given that it appeared to set the Senate president on a collision course with LePage.
Not so, say Raye and LePage staffers. In fact, all say Raye met with LePage on Friday morning to restate his case for Biddeford.
Raye also voted for Lewiston’s authorization.
Adrienne Bennett, a spokeswoman for LePage, said she believed the governor would still reject legislative authorization. But, she added, “Things always change.”
Joshua Tardy, the former Republican House minority leader now lobbying for Maine Racing LLC, representing the Biddeford project, said Friday that he too had been in discussions with the LePage administration.
Maine Racing LLC has spent more than $50,000 lobbying for the Biddeford proposal and gaming initiatives through April of this session.
The seven shifters
Seven senators supported Biddeford but voted against Lewiston, prompting Mendros to claim that the city had been “thrown under the bus.”
The reasons among several of the senators voting for Biddeford and not Lewiston were varied.
Sen. Stan Gerzofsky, D-Brunswick, said Lewiston was “late to the game” and that the planned facility’s proximity to his district was a concern for constituents.
Sen. Roger Sherman, R-Houlton, said there was some confusion during the Lewiston vote.
“We were following our leadership and I think we misread the (voting) board,” said Sherman, adding that the result could be different when the Lewiston proposal returns to the chamber for a second vote.
Sen. Rodney Whittemore, R-Skowhegan, said his principled opposition to gambling was the reason he voted against Lewiston. He said he supported the Biddeford racino because its anticipated “agricultural impact” would benefit horse breeders in his district.
The June 9 Senate roll call votes for the Legislature’s direct authorization of proposed casino projects in Biddeford and Lewiston. “Y” means the lawmaker supports sending the casino proposal to public referendum; “N” means the lawmaker supports direct authorization by the Legislature. “E” means did not vote.
Biddeford racino
Justin Alfond, D-Portland, Y
Philip Bartlett II, D-Gorham, Y
Joseph Brannigan, D-Portland, N
Ronald Collins, R-Wells, Y
Jonathan Courtney, R-Springvale, N
Margaret Craven, D-Lewiston, N
Bill Diamond, D-Windham, N
Cynthia Dill, D-Cape Elizabeth, N
Nichi Farnham, R-Bangor, Y
Stan Gerzofsky, D-Brunswick, N
Seth Goodall, D-Richmond, E
David Hastings III, R-Fryeburg, Y
Dawn Hill, D-Cape Neddick, Y
Barry Hobbins, D-Saco, Y
Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, Y
Roger Katz, R-Augusta, N
Brian Langley, R-Ellsworth, N
Thomas Martin Jr., R-Benton, Y
Garrett Mason, R-Lisbon Falls, Y
Earle McCormick, R-West Gardiner, N
John Patrick, D-Rumford, Y
Debra Plowman, R-Hampden, E
Kevin Raye, R-Perry, N
Christopher Rector, R-Thomaston, Y
Richard Rosen, R-Bucksport, Y
Thomas Saviello, R-Wilton, N
Elizabeth Schneider, D-Orono, N
Roger Sherman, R-Houlton, N
Lois Snowe-Mello, R-Poland, N
Nancy Sullivan, D-Biddeford, N
Michael Thibodeau, R-Winterport, Y
Douglas Thomas, R-Ripley, Y
David Trahan, R-Waldoboro, N
Rodney Whittemore, R- Skowhegan, N
Richard Woodbury, I-Yarmouth, Y
Lewiston casino
Justin Alfond, D-Portland, Y
Philip Bartlett II, D-Gorham, Y
Joseph Brannigan, D-Portland, Y
Ronald Collins, R-Wells, Y
Jonathan Courtney, R-Springvale, Y
Margaret Craven, D-Lewiston, N
Bill Diamond, D-Windham, N
Cynthia Dill, D-Cape Elizabeth, Y
Nichi Farnham, R-Bangor, Y
Stan Gerzofsky, D-Brunswick, Y
Seth Goodall, D-Richmond, E
David Hastings III, R-Fryeburg, Y
Dawn Hill, D-Cape Neddick, N
Barry Hobbins, D-Saco, Y
Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, N
Roger Katz, R-Augusta, N
Brian Langley, R-Ellsworth, N
Thomas Martin Jr., R-Benton, N
Garrett Mason, R-Lisbon Falls, Y
Earle McCormick, R-West Gardiner, Y
John Patrick, D-Rumford, N
Debra Plowman, R-Hampden, E
Kevin Raye, R-Perry, N
Christopher Rector, R-Thomaston, Y
Richard Rosen, R-Bucksport, Y
Thomas Saviello, R-Wilton, N
Elizabeth Schneider, D-Orono, N
Roger Sherman, R-Houlton, Y
Lois Snowe-Mello, R-Poland, N
Nancy Sullivan, D-Biddeford, N
Michael Thibodeau, R-Winterport, N
Douglas Thomas, R-Ripley, N
David Trahan, R-Waldoboro, N
Rodney Whittemore, R- Skowhegan, Y
Richard Woodbury, I-Yarmouth, Y
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