This past Friday, June 15th the House debated and voted on the bill to allow the Penobscot Nation to operate slots. The Penobscot Nation has a voice in the House. Fellow Legislators listened and were persuaded by not only what I had to say but by what others had to say.
Representative John Patrick (D) from Rumford was the Legal and Veterans Committee Chair. This Committee heard our testimony at Public Hearing and voted for passage of the bill 11-2. Representative Patrick was a staunch advocate on the floor as well as many others. The House voted 101 to 38 in favor.
The bill then went to the Senate. It has always been harder for us to get our bills past in the Senate because we have no Native Voice there and we usually end up losing. This time we won but fell short by four votes of the two thirds we will need to override the Governors promised veto.
I must say I was very disappointed to see Senator Peter Mills stand and speak against this bill. He was more concerned with proliferation of slot machines then he was with the humanity and fairness issues that are involved. There are those who see only gaming and nothing else and these people have tunnel vision and fail to see the total picture. The Penobscot Nation has been advocating for the High Stakes Bingo operation that was taken away from us in 1974. We had slot machines then and since that time the State of Maine has legalized them.
Senator Mills argued that the number of slot machines in the bill was over and above the legal limit. Not so, there was no legal limit placed on the number of slot machines in the referendum that was approved for the Bangor Racino. The Legislature put a limit of 3,000 slot machines into the law after the referendum was passed. The thought behind it was to allow 1500 slot machines in Northern Maine and another 1500 in Southern Maine. Southern Maine voted not to allow a Racino in their towns. 400 slot machines for the Penobscot Nation is not over the legal limit. The legislature can amend the law at any time. The Penobscot High Stakes games come totally under Maine law and the control of the gaming commission.
Senator Mills also mentioned the loss of revenue by other non-profits because of Hollywood slots. The Penobscot Nation recognizes this loss and requested a committee amendment that would closely mirror the Bangor Racino amendment that gives a percentage of the profits to non-profits as well as colleges and veterans groups.
Senator Mills