The November slots referendum is Maryland?s best bet to balance a $700 million budget shortfall and avoid another tax increase or cuts to education, Maryland Chamber of Commerce leaders said in announcing their support for the plan Tuesday.
“This referendum is consistent with our position on slots,” said chamber Chairman Betty Buck. “Marylanders cannot keep sending millions out of the state. While state government has cut millions from the budget, it is unlikely they will be able to make enough cuts to make up $700 million.”
The chamber, a coalition of 860 businesses employing 440,000 people statewide, will partner with the Maryland State Teachers Association and the Maryland Association of Counties as part of the state?s pro-slots “For Maryland, For Our Future” campaign.
The Chamber of Commerce has backed a tightly regulated, limited-location slots plan since October 2002, according to President and Chief Executive Officer Kathy Snyder. She said the chamber?s board voted to support the referendum in a “huge majority vote” last week.
“Education is the heartbeat of our community,” she said. “It?s critically important that this referendum pass.”
The chamber?s support follows approval of the referendum last month from the Maryland Association of Counties and the Maryland State Teachers Association. The teachers association had not previously taken a stance on slots, but the state?s worsening financial situation prompted it to back the referendum, according to spokesman Dan Kauffman.
Frederick Puddester, former state budget secretary and chair of “For Maryland, For Our Future,” said the groups are among several broad-based state organizations that may back the referendum before November. He declined to elaborate on other potential supporters prior to announcements by those organizations.
“It comes down to alternatives,” Puddester said. “If you?re not in support of the referendum, I have one question for you: What are your alternatives? Are you going to tax the middle class some more, or cut education?”
The chamber?s longtime support of education and slots goes along with the more direct benefits its members located around the potential slots locations could see in economic development and increased revenue.
“That?s always feasible,” said Buck. “Truthfully, anything that goes on around [slots] is just the icing on the cake.”
