Sunday, November 8, 2009

Current
Weather
51°F

Preparations for slots moving forward

Governor gets ready to name commission to scrutinize applications

By LIAM FARRELL, Staff Writer

Published 11/06/08

It took the voice of Maryland voters to break the slot machines logjam in Annapolis, and one of the longest-running State House soap operas already is spinning off new subplots.

Although more battles probably will erupt, Gov. Martin O'Malley said yesterday he is focused on turning the ballot measure passed by voters on Tuesday into reality. Up to 15,000 slots are heading to five locations, including one in Anne Arundel County.

The state has estimated some slots facilities could open as soon as February 2011.

"The people have decided. They did so by pretty overwhelming margins," he said. "For my part, I am focused on following the people's will here and moving forward here with all the due diligence and care that's necessary."

The governor said he was meeting with his staff yesterday to begin discussing issues such as expanding the State Lottery Commission from five to nine members for additional oversight, and creating a seven-member Facility Location Commission to scrutinize bids for slots licenses.

Mr. O'Malley will appoint three members to the location commission, with Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., D-Calvert, and House Speaker Michael E. Busch, D-Annapolis, having two appointments each.

Although Mr. O'Malley did not have a specific timeline for such decisions, he said choices will be made in the next several weeks.

"It has always been our intent to move with some speed and to move forward carefully but very deliberatively so that we might realize those (slots) revenues as quickly as possible," he said.

Despite all the legislative intransigence, the State House stalemate turned into a clear majority at the polls.

Mr. O'Malley's strategy of placing slots before the voters was born out of necessity during last fall's special session, as the near-blanket withdrawal of Republican support from the governor's slots and tax plans forced leaders to woo wary Democrats unenthusiastic about supporting the machines.

The drama in the General Assembly chambers hardly filtered into polling places, however. Almost 60 percent of voters both statewide and in Anne Arundel County approved the measure to legalize slot machines.

State Comptroller Peter Franchot, who largely became the face of the anti-slots movement, said he still has concerns about the "corrosive effects" slot machines will have on the state's quality of life.

But Mr. Franchot - seated next to Mr. O'Malley at a meeting of the Board of Public Works yesterday - indicated he wanted to move beyond the occasionally vituperative slots debate that had dominated his relationship with state officials for the past several months.

The bigger problems now, he said, are the financial issues slots will not be able to solve, namely budget deficits of around $1 billion for the foreseeable future.

"Now that the question has been called and the votes counted ... I respectfully suggest it is time for all slots supporters and opponents alike to refocus our attention on the fiscal crisis that now threatens our state," Mr. Franchot said. "I hope that we can agree that slots are inconsequential to the difficult decisions that must now be made."

Public speaks

As a result of the vote, a separate piece of implementing legislation now goes into effect.

It sets up logistics, from where revenues go, to prohibiting slots parlors from distributing free food and alcoholic beverages.

For the county - which will get up to 4,750 slots within two miles of Baltimore-Washington Parkway - the next task will be a debate over zoning, as slots have to comply with local zoning regulations. Right now, the county has no such rules, meaning the County Council, which has some slots opponents, will have to hammer out the issue.

The Maryland Jockey Club, which runs the Laurel Park racetrack, already has said it intends to apply for a slots license, even though local government and community officials are opposed to the idea.

Mr. O'Malley, however, anticipates that any difficulties will not be insurmountable.

"You cannot build a quality grocery store without there being concerns over zoning and debates over zoning with neighbors," he said. "To the extent that any of them prove to be hurdles, I'm sure we'll find a way to get over those hurdles, and do it in a way that is respectful of community concerns."

And the will of the voters will be tough for slots opponents to resist. County Executive John R. Leopold, who is personally against slots, already has asked the police and zoning departments to look into the impact of the machines, and will see if there is consensus on the County Council for the zoning changes.

Over the past several years, Mr. Busch, the House Speaker, has been one of the most effective opponents of slot machines, helping to derail the efforts of Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., to get them into the state without the ballot.

Mr. Busch said he voted against slots on Tuesday, but he is confident the lessons learned over six years of gambling debates in the General Assembly evolved into a law with adequate oversight, bid competition, and protection for taxpayers.

"Slots will always remain a controversial issue," the speaker said. "But our job as elected officials is to make sure there are safeguards in there ... We have gone about that in the appropriate fashion."

YOUR COMMENTS

RULES OF PARTICIPATION

If you encounter other problems, please email ewiffin@capitalgazette.com and include your name, username, and any errors or messages that are displayed. The more information you can provide, the better able we will be to assist you.

In order to post or vote on a comment, you must be signed in with a hometownannapolis account.

Take a look at a summary of Commenting Guidelines.

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 0

I fail to see - 2008-11-11 10:46:53

how over development and the decline in the health of the bay has anything at all to do with slots .......

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Kristina P. - Easton, MD - Karma: Bad

The best way - 2008-11-10 17:41:03

to pick up support for slots is to put together a partisan commission to implement it. Please Ehrlich run in 2010.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Peter D. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Terrible

Tired - 2008-11-08 18:08:47

I'm tired of the old worn out arguments. The nasty side of me wished they increased our taxes 25% and let the developers have their way with the remaining green space we have in this state. Hell, pave over the Bay why don't 'ya. Gambling is a PERSONAL choice. I play the lottery and I bet the horses (oh my gosh!). The people voted...oh my gosh...democracy working!

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

J. Jovkovich - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

Gambling...a good thing?? - 2008-11-07 12:55:16

I cannot possibly go in my mind and realize that someone would actually believe that gambling would be a good thing. Every one is losing the true focus...where did the big deficit come from and what is REALLY needed to fix it. Thanks to many residents, slots will be coming in, and do you REALLY believe taxes won't be raised regardless? Please for the sake of us all, take a good look at what is really going on, and do the right thing. This county can still battle the zoning laws that are needed to be changed to allow that use. Last chance folks, better speak up, or to hell with all of us. I have kids here, and I think they would be better off in another state, a state with with more backbone that doesn't cower and pass bogus laws to compensate for governmental ignorance.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Debbie F. - Arnold, MD - Karma: Bad

Hope your ready - 2008-11-07 11:21:11

Once they are in it will take another change to the constitution to get them out agian. We have started down a very slippery slope and I fear it will not stop with slots. Can we say gaming tables? We have decided to go down this route and now we need to compete with neighboring states. Do you think they are going to lose people coming in to spend money without a fight? I hope everyone is ready for the incresed crime, addiction, broken marriages and other social issues caused by gambling! Remember ..... if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is!

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Kristina P. - Easton, MD - Karma: Bad

Once there in.... - 2008-11-07 08:25:43

...We will never get rid of them. I hope the voters are ready for the increase in crime, addiction, suicides, and poverty that go along with gambling. Oh, not to mention that in every place they made slots legal to help the state financially it has actually had the opposite effect.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

K. Overman - arnold, MD - Karma: Bad