A senator says he is uncomfortable supporting the bill because of votes
in recent months.
AUGUSTA – There’ll be no slot machines at off-track betting parlors this year. The sponsor of a bill to allow slots at OTBs said Friday he has withdrawn the legislation.
Last year lawmakers approved Waterville Sen. Ken Gagnon’s bill by large margins. The proposal would have allowed each of the state’s OTBs, including one in Lewiston, to operate up to 200 slot machines.
Gov. John Baldacci never signed the bill, however, and vowed he would ultimately veto it before the deadline.
Gagnon, a Democrat, said he withdrew the bill because of Baldacci’s veto threat and because he wanted to avoid a veto fight between legislators and the governor. He said an attempt to override Baldacci’s promised veto was losing support among legislators.
Gagnon said he was also feeling less comfortable about the issue given what’s happened with state and local elections on gambling over the last few months, and all the emotion the issue has raised.
It’s important now “to slow down” because emotions and confusion are running high, Gagnon said. “Right now people are looking to their government with an expectation that” calm decisions will be made in the best interest of citizens.
Given the fight between Scarborough Downs and Bangor Historic Track, and the surprise announcement Thursday that Downs affiliate Penn National was going to buy Bangor Raceway, “it became obvious that the issue is money. Surprise, surprise,” Gagnon said. “I don’t believe we’ll be seeing slots at OTB this year, nor with this governor.”
Gagnon said he still supports the concept of slot machines at OTBs, but won’t push the issue because this year’s short legislative session is already very busy and because “it’s important to respect the governor.”
However, a spokesman for House Speaker Patrick Colwell, D-Gardiner, said although the bill has been withdrawn “it doesn’t mean the OTB issue is over. It’s incorrect to say we’ve abandoned it,” said spokesman Douglas Rooks.
While there now is no legislative vehicle to get slots at OTB, nor would Baldacci support that, a lot could happen before lawmakers adjourn, Rooks said.
The governor, who consistently opposes large-scale gambling, said Friday he was appreciative the bill had been withdrawn. “I was fully prepared to veto the bill,” Baldacci said. “It’s the start of the session. Maybe there’s an interest to work together. And we’ve got so many issues.”
On Wednesday the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee, which Gagnon co-chairs, will hold a work session on Baldacci’s bill to regulate slot machines at race tracks.
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