BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 6, 2020
Tribes won a historic victory on Thursday when a Maine legislative panel endorsed a sweeping sovereignty effort, but it could be a hollow one with lawmakers squabbling over the terms of a return to Augusta and looming special-interest opposition. On Thursday, the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee endorsed the package while splitting it into three different bills as a way to make the issues more palatable for lawmakers. They include one bill allowing tribes to conduct gaming on their lands; one on taxation, land acquisition and criminal jurisdiction; and a third touching on fishing, hunting and other rights.