A casino policy?

 Members of the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee may spend the summer at the Statehouse working on a comprehensive policy regarding the expansion of slot machines and casinos in the state.

 Rather than develop a 45-member study commission, the bill calls for legislators on Legal and Vets to develop the policy. The committee will consider slot machines, casinos, state-operated gambling facilities, slots at commercial race tracks and “a competitive bidding process allowing private entities to contract with the state to conduct gambling.”

 They’ll have the power to present a bill next year, which means the Legislature could get something in place before the next governor is elected in November.

 Gov. John Baldacci has consistently opposed the expansion of gambling in Maine. Who knows where our next governor will stand?