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Maine Governor Objects to Racino Approval

AUGUSTA, Maine – As reported by the Bangor Daily News: "Governor John Baldacci said Wednesday he respects the will of the people - even when they make choices he opposes such as Tuesday's endorsement of slot machines at the track. Still, the majority of voters who ignored the governor's warnings about approving slot machines at commercial harness racing tracks in Bangor and Scarborough may have a long wait before they actually get to pull the handle of a one-armed bandit.

"With all 649 voting precincts reporting from Tuesday's election balloting, unofficial results tabulated by the Bangor Daily News showed 53 percent of the voters favored the Question 2 slot machine proposal.

"…`As [the proposal] unfolds and the discussion continues, as it is with anything, there may be an opportunity down that road that we may be able to review this,' Baldacci said and then declined to elaborate further on the implications of his statement. `I want to reserve my options for down the road. It just means we're going to do first things first here.'

"Among the `first things' the governor plans to explore is exactly what administrative structure Maine currently has to regulate slot machine operations.

"…In the weeks ahead, the governor said he would scrutinize the `racino' proposal for weaknesses in general and fatal flaws in particular…"

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