Slots opponents in the House of Delegates said they might have enough votes to block Gov. Martin O?Malley?s plan for a referendum to allow the machines at five locations in Maryland. But they cautioned not to underestimate the governor?s ability to sway votes and pull off a key element of his revenue measures during the special session.
“We?re close,” said Del. Luiz Simmons, D-Montgomery, a fierce foe of slots.
Del. Curt Anderson, a Baltimore Democrat, said, “I believe we have 70 solid votes against the referendum,” with 35 Democrats and 35 Republicans as part of the anti-slots tally.
That would leave only 70 votes for the slots referendum, and the governor needs a super-majority of 85 votes.
Democrats “don?t like the idea of funding state government on gambling revenue,” Anderson said.
Republicans in the House said they support their own version of a slots plan and they want lawmakers, not the citizens, to decide the issue. “We really believe that the slots referendum does nothing more than enable the largest tax increase in Maryland history and enrich five slots operators,” said House Minority Whip Christopher Shank, R-Washington County.
“The Republicans have been like a phalanx against the referendum,” said Simmons. “There are a lot of wobbly Democratic votes.
“There?s more anti-slots sentiment than there is anti-slots conviction,” Simmons said. “The governor can wave the magic wand and bring over any number he needs. There are a lot of levers the governor can pull.”
The Senate passed its slots legislation last week before the tax increases and spending cuts, and has delayed coming back to Annapolis until Thursday.
House GOP leader Anthony O?Donnell said the delay was a message Senate President Thomas Mike Miller was sending to O?Malley that the governor needed to round up slots votes in the House. For Miller, who has been pushing slots for five years, slots are an essential part of fixing the state?s deficit next year, along with taxes and budget cuts.
“We?re in the same process we?ve gone through with both the other [revenue] bills,” House Speaker Michael Busch said. Asked if he had the votes to pass the measure, Busch said, “Revenues wouldn?t have passed a day and half before if there weren?t an agreement.”
Subcommittee Chairman Frank Turner, D- Howard, said there are many slot amendments to consider, including proposals for new locations in Frederick.
“We want to cut off some of the revenue that?s flowing out of the state,” Turner said Monday. “Personally, I think it makes sense.”
Frederick is “an appropriate location,” Busch said, and was part of a House slots bill in 2005, “but I don?t think it will be in the bill.”
Staff writer Jaime Malarkey contributed to this story.
