We need a slots referendum like our culture needs the now defunct “The Man Show.” On many issues voters should have their say. And on slots they have. Citizens have had years to speak their minds. Legislators know what their constituents think.
Lawmakers need to take act. Pass this law.
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The irony is Gov. Martin O?Malley suggested the referendum. He is the same governor who called an “emergency” special session because the state could not wait one more minute to hike revenue any way possible. A referendum, assuming three-fifths of state legislators approve, would not make it to a vote of the people until next fall. This begs the question: Are tax hikes being debated in the special session really necessary?
If the referendum is truly what he wanted and passing it what the state needs, how did he expect the state to operate in such dire financial straits in the interim?
As we?ve noted on multiple occasions, decreasing the growth rate of spending (note: No cuts are proposed) by a mere 2 or 3 percent in tandem with allowing slots would eliminate the need for any tax hikes. The whole process has been a political farce — with we the people in the audience being duped as butt of the joke.
Lawmakers must block O?Malley?s plan for a referendum and instead pass their own slots bill so that the hundreds of millions Marylanders spend in Delaware, Pennsylvania and other states can instead help to pave roads, build schools, hire teachers and ease the growing burden on taxpayers in our state.
The best law would have Maryland auction licenses to those who would return the highest portion of the proceeds to the state ? a proposal outlined by the Maryland Public Policy Institute in its 2003 report, “Legalizing Video Slot Gaming in Maryland: A Business Analysis.” A “reverse auction” would neutralize the influence of “big gambling” and stop the state from entering the gaming business, something it knows nothing about.
Do your job, General Assembly, stand up and pass the slots bill.
