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July 29, 2013

Maine tribe pushes casino plan for Calais

Maine’s Passamaquoddy tribe plans to submit legislation in January that would allow it to seek a Washington County-only referendum for a racetrack casino in Calais.

The Associated Press reported that the tribe, which has had previous casino bids rejected in statewide referendum votes, sees a local vote as its best bet. As before, the tribe says a casino would provide a much-need economic boost for the region.

"We've always seen gaming as a project that could stimulate other businesses and jobs," Chief Joseph Socobasin of the Passamaquoddies at Indian Township, one of two Passamaquoddy reservations at the nation's eastern tip, told the AP. "I don't think it will end all of our issues here in Washington County, but it would certainly be a great start for some kind of economic development."

The Passamaquoddies, joined by the Penobscot Nation, saw a proposed casino in Sanford defeated in a statewide referendum in 2003. The tribe fell short again in 2007 and 2011 in statewide votes. It hopes to get its current casino plan on a local Washington County ballot by November 2014. Between 60% to 70% of county voters supported the casino in the 2011 statewide vote, Socobasin said.

The tribe's effort comes as the Maine Gaming Commission, which includes lawmakers and representatives from the tribes and the harness racing industry, met for the first time Friday to create a framework for a competitive bidding process for future casino and slot machine licenses, the AP reported.

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