Slots Referendum

The Maryland Republican party says the state government doesn't have revenue problem, rather, it has a spending problem.

"The advertising from advocates of the slots constitutional amendment claims that the only solution to the projected deficit is to raise taxes or pass the referendum, I want to make it perfectly clear that the MDGOP is firmly opposed to raising taxes," said MDGOP chair Jim Pelura in a statement.

Pelura suggested that with a careful evaluation, spending could be brought under control.

Anti-slots group Marylanders United to Stop Slots wants WBAL-AM to pull two ads being aired by its pro-slots rival organization.

"These advertisements are false and misleading, and knowingly misstate facts and positions on the issue of Question 2, the slots constitutional amendment on the ballot this fall," wrote the group's senior advisor, Scott Arceneaux, in a letter to WBAL-FM. The letter was in reference to two ads being run by the pro-slots group For Maryland For Our Future.

According to Arceneaux, one ad says slots will guarantee $650 million in new education funding each year. "Simply put, this is a lie," he said.

To view more cartoons by Politicker.com editorial cartoonist Rob Tornoe, click here.

Former Gov. Bob EhrlichFormer Gov. Bob Ehrlich (R-Baltimore) says he is against November's slots referendum.

Ehrlich voiced his opposition to Question 2 during his weekly WBAL-AM radio show, which he hosts along with his wife Kendel Ehrlich. If passed, the referendum would allow up to 15,000 slot machine installations at five different locations across the state.

The Baltimore County Executive's Regional Advisory Board for Business and Education voted to support November's slots referendum on Friday. The EAB -- a forum to the regional economy -- is made up of representatives from business, government and education.

"I have been working hard to ensure the passage of the slots referendum this November," said county executive Jim Smith (D-Baltimore County) in a statement. "I am very pleased that this group-who represents a broad cross-section of employers, and the educators who work directly with students-are taking such a strong position on this issue. The $600 million that will be dedicated to the Education Trust Fund if slots pass, will be impossible to replace."

The Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee formally opposed November's slots referendum on Wednesday.

In a 16 to 1 decision, with 1 member abstaining, the committee voted to take the opposite stance of County Executive Isiah Leggett (D-Montgomery County).

Leggett reluctantly announced his support for November's slots referendum last week.

The House Republican caucus says it's against November's slots referendum, but that doesn't mean a "responsible" slots plan shouldn't be implemented.

"Maryland's fiscal problems are not the product of a lack of revenues, but an inherent lack of spending restraint among the majority of its state political leaders," said House Minority Leader Tony O'Donnell (R-Calvert County) in a statement.  

The caucus revealed its fiscal year 2010 budget plan and its stance on November's slots referendum on Thursday. House Republicans proposed reduced spending, tax cuts and a market based slots plan, all the while slamming Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley's fiscal policies.

A new poll suggests far more Marylanders are for passing November's slots referendum than are against it.

The poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports asks if respondents would vote for or against the proposed constitutional amendment were the election held today.

Fifty-four percent of respondents said they were for passing the referendum, 35 percent were against it and 11 percent weren't sure.

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-Baltimore) says he has been plenty active in his support for November's slots referendum, despite reports that suggest otherwise.

"I'm not sure what they were expecting to see from all of this," said O'Malley during a Tuesday interview on WTOP-FM.

O'Malley was asked if he had been keeping low key on the issue to soften a potential political blow from the slots referendum's possible failure to pass in November.