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Maine Racino Plans Face New Opposition

MAINE – As reported by the Bangor Daily News: "A plan for a tribal racetrack casino Down East faced fresh opposition this week with the defection of a state lawmaker from Bangor, where officials have been wary of the plan's propensity to galvanize efforts to outlaw slots in Maine and derail plans for a multimillion dollar 'racino' in the city.

"'Every time we turn around, somebody - the tribes, [the anti-slots group] Casinos No! - is trying to throw a monkey wrench into the Bangor racino,' Rep. Pat Blanchette, D-Bangor, said Monday from Augusta, where her Legal and Veterans Affairs committee considered the bill for a second time last week. "Stop raining on my parade. This is too important to Bangor."

"In the committee's initial vote, Blanchette supported the Passamaquoddy Tribe's plan, which would allow the tribe to operate as many as 1,500 slots - thus doubling the statewide limit - at a racetrack near its reservation in Washington County.

"Blanchette, however, unexpectedly withdrew her endorsement. And in a Monday interview, she suggested her committee should reconsider the proposal, which she said lacked specifics such as who would fund the costly new racetrack complex…"

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