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Maine Casino Task Force Will Not Take Sides19 November 2002AUGUSTA, Maine – As reported by the Portland Press Herald: "The state's casino task force will not take a position on where or whether a casino should be built, members decided at their final meeting Monday. "Instead, its report will include conflicting testimony and research collected while trying to fulfill its charge of determining the economic and traffic-related effects of a Maine casino. "…The task force also decided Monday to list dozens of additional questions that were not originally posed by the Legislature. The final report is due to the Legislature in December, and the next session's lawmakers are expected to use it when deciding how to act on the tribes' proposal. "…Additional questions that the task force will recommend lawmakers ask when they consider legislation include: "Should the state run a casino if it needs the money to help pay for services? "Should the state put the project out to bid in order to collect the most revenue possible? "Are negative consequences of a casino OK, as long as the costs are covered? "Are the costs to the broader community offset by benefits to the Maine Indian community? "…Task force members repeatedly have said they didn't have enough time or money for necessary research. The group was given a $6,800 budget and authorized to hold four meetings…" |