By Associated Press
2/28/2002
Backers of the project touted its
economic benefits and expressed hope that the state's projected $157 million
budget shortfall might make lawmakers more open-minded to gambling as a way to
raise state revenues.
Jon Doyle, a lawyer and lobbyist
representing the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy tribes, said preliminary plans are
for a resort and casino near Interstate 95 that would serve up to 20,000
customers daily and create at least 2,500 jobs with an average annual wage of
$25,000.
The casino, he said, would produce
$50 million a year in income for the tribes while generating $75 million in
state gaming taxes and $20 million in other revenues for state and local
governments.
Doyle said the tribes envision a
''turn-of-the-century resort hotel'' in the grand style of the Poland Spring
Hotel, the old Samoset Resort in Rockport, or the Wentworth-by-the-Sea in New
Hampshire.
Lawmakers and Kittery residents
greeted the proposal with a mix of support, skepticism and hostility, while Gov.
Angus King reiterated his opposition to casino gambling.
''I have been consistently,
strongly opposed to an expansion of gambling, particularly casinos,'' said King,
who is in the last year of his term. ''I think it takes money out of the pockets
of the local people . . . It's not true economic development. It brings with it
inevitable corruption. I don't care what anyone says, when you have that much
cash, it's just not healthy.''
Any casino proposal would need the
approval of the governor and the Legislature. A bill that would have allowed the
Passamaquoddy Tribe to build a casino in Calais was rejected by lawmakers eight
years ago.
Doyle said the group is considering
introducing legislation this session to let the tribes build the casino, but may
decide to wait until the next legislative session, depending on what lawmakers
say in the next week or so.
With the session scheduled to end
in about a month, sponsors would have to get approval to submit a bill, hold a
public hearing, win approval from the House and Senate, and get the governor's
signature in that time frame, said Senate President Richard Bennett.
''I don't think there's enough time
to deal with all the issues that would invariably come up,'' Bennett said.
Sponsors see casinos as benefiting
not just the state's finances, but the state's Native American population.
''What I would want to see is that
the tribes benefit from this,'' said Rep. Donna Loring of the Penobscot Nation.
''We wouldn't go into an economic venture just to give the state revenue.''
Local residents and business
leaders expressed interest in the idea of a casino, but raised questions about
whether such a project would be a good fit for the area.
David DeLise, president of the
Gateway to Maine Chamber of Commerce, said a casino would likely generate
tremendous revenue but questioned whether Kittery could handle the traffic.
''It goes back to the old Yankee
mentality,'' DeLise said. ''A lot of people moved here to get away from the
hustle and bustle, to enjoy the quaint way of life.''
Steve LaPointe, who organizes bus
trips to the Foxwoods casino in Connecticut for the American Legion chapter in
neighboring York, said he supports building a casino.
''People are going to gamble, so
why shouldn't Maine have that income?'' he said. ''As long as it's a caliber
casino, and not some hole in the wall, I'm all for it.''