Ballot language for the legalization of slot machines submitted Monday met expected criticism from slots opponents who took issue with its emphasis on the potential benefits to education.
Maryland Secretary of State John McDonough released the text Monday, saying he added the words “slot machines” in parentheses in the title because average voters may not recognize the technical term — video lottery terminals — used in legislation.
“So, while I am sure advocates on one side or the other [or both] will probably have criticisms, I am satisfied I carried out my statutory duty to fairly summarize the intent and meaning of the proposed amendment, without arguing for or against it,” McDonough said in a statement.
The ballot question describes in its first sentence the purpose of the slots licenses as a funding source for education and public school construction. Anti-slots adviser Scott Arceneaux called the language “troubling” and “slanted.”
“It makes this seem all about education when it’s about gambling and slot machines,” Arceneaux said. “It doesn’t talk about the half a billion dollars that goes into the gaming industry, which, frankly, is as much as goes into the Education Trust Fund.”
The language, along with the text for the legalization of early voting, was forwarded to the state’s Board of Elections. In November, voters will decide whether to authorize the state to issue up to five licenses for up to 15,000 slot machines at five venues, one each in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Cecil, Worcester and Allegany counties.
The recently appointed McDonough resisted calls from slots opponents who have threatened to file a lawsuit if he crafted the ballot language. Slots critics including Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot said McDonough, who worked as an attorney and lobbyist for Rosecroft Raceway, should recuse himself because gambling interests stand to make hundreds of millions of dollars if the referendum passes.
“We think it’s a clear conflict of interest,” Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot said at an anti-slots rally in Baltimore Monday morning. “He was a lobbyist in the racing industry for years. The conflict is real — it’s there.”
Frederick Puddester, who leads a pro-slots coalition, released a statement saying his counterparts criticized the language long before it was written.
“That purpose of funding education should not be lost in the coming weeks as we continue our discussion on this important issue,” he said.
McDonough said he consulted with former secretary of state and University of Baltimore public affairs professor John Willis and studied previous ballot questions before he crafted the language, staying as close to the words used in legislation as possible.
Examiner Staff Writer Andrew Cannarsa contributed to this report.
To see the ballot questions, visit www.baltimoreexaminer.com.
