York County casino campaign to be investigated

The Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee voted to investigate the campaign to build a casino in York County.

US.- The campaign for a casino construction in York County has raised suspicion among lawmakers and caused the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee to vote, unanimously, to launch an investigation into it. State authorities want to get further information on who funded the campaign as originally there was only one alleged investor and more were added after questioning by the ethics commission staff.

The proposal was already under investigation by the Maine Ethics Commission, which is looking into the source of the US$4.3 million used to collect voter signatures. According to pressherald.com, Lisa Scott initially filed paperwork and was, at that point, the only source of funds for the campaign. However, after the inquiry by the ethics commission, she amended her filings and added two other companies (which Ms Scott heads): Miami Development Corp. and International Development Corp.

The committee vote will now launch an investigation by its staff in the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability, which will reveal its findings in September and will meet again in October, few weeks before voters get to voice their opinion.