To the dismay of some of his fellow state legislators, Rep. Gary Moore, R-Standish, made allegations of racism during a recent committee hearing discussing the possibility of a racino in Washington County.

The allegations were made before the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee voted 12-1 to approve a proposal for the Passamaquoddy Tribe to operate a racino in Calais last week.

During the discussion, Moore, who had prepared his statements prior to the hearing, told fellow committee members that he had heard racist comments made by other legislators directed toward the Passamaquoddy tribe and the racino proposal.

During the committee hearing and in an interview this week regarding his comment, Moore wouldn’t name the speaker of the alleged racist remarks or say where it occurred.

The racino proposal was eventually passed on March 28 by the committee and was expected to be voted on by the full Legislature Thursday, April 5.

“There’s a theme you hear,” said Moore. “There’s a vicious undercurrent, especially with the Casinos No! crowd and the Christian Civic League. They seem to be in alliance in their opposition to the racino proposal. It has negative and threatening overtones to it.”

He also said people use the phrase “special rights” when referring to American Indians as code for prejudice they hold against them.

“It means, ‘I don’t like Indians,’ basically,” said Moore. He said racists call American Indians “welfare warriors, drunks and drug addicts.”

“I’m sick of hearing about that,” Moore said.

Moore said the resentment harkens back to the land claims issue settled under President Jimmy Carter when Maine tribes received certain privileges and rights over land reservations, including the ability to run high-stakes bingo games that are illegal in Maine outside the reservations.

“It’s a right they paid for,” said Moore.

State Rep. Patricia Blanchette, D-Bangor, cast the sole dissenting vote against the racino proposal and said Moore’s accusations of racism were “out of line.”

“To come out and say there were racial overtones or undertones against this legislation is wrong. It is deceitful, and it is hateful,” she said.

“I think he was desperate to make sure the committee did the politically correct thing, and that is support the tribes no matter what,” she said. Blanchette said she took personal offense to the accusations of racism and that Maine has very few problems with the issue.

“Rep. Moore owes the whole legislature an apology,” she said. “I doubt very seriously that he’s man enough to do it.”

Moore said he has very high respect for Blanchette and has “no issues with her.” He also said he will not apologize for his comments or the timing of the comments.

“If anything, there are people here in the Legislature who owe the Indians an apology. I don’t owe anybody anything. I had to stand up and say what I know is right.”