One of the lawmakers who represents Bangor in the Maine Legislature, Democratic Sen. Joe Baldacci, is at the center of a debate over sports betting and tribal gaming rights. One particular sentence in a recent BDN story about Baldacci and this debate caught our attention.

Here’s that sentence, from an April 14 story by BDN political editor Michael Shepherd: “While [Baldacci] said he backs tribal sovereignty efforts except for gaming because of Bangor’s financial ties to the casino, he criticized the process that led to the Mills-tribal deal.”

So essentially, he says he backs tribal sovereignty, except for the issue that impacts an important (and powerful) part of his constituency.