Maryland Governor Threatens Higher Taxes If Slots Measure Fails

While most of the proponents of expanded gambling try to link the positive impact it would have on the community, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley has taken the opposite approach. Instead of convincing voters how good slot expansion could be, O'Malley has resorted to threats.

In the past month O'Malley has sent out direct e-mails to voters warning them of the dangers they could face if they do not vote in favor of the slots measure on the ballot Tuesday. He sited several aspects of their lives that could be negatively affected.

"Every county, city, and local jurisdiction in our great state will be forced to cut funding for vital services or raise taxes," he wrote. The timing of the e-mail may have hit home with many voters.

The state is cutting spending much like other states, and jobs are being lost on an almost daily basis. Those two factors help proponents of the expanded slots get the positive message out about the slot measure.

The issue has become a tiresome one in Maryland, where it has been debated for years by politicians. That could be the reason that voters appear to be in favor of passing the expansion this time around.

"I think people are tired of the issue, for one thing. Most people have made up their minds and just want to vote," said Cricket Goodall, Executive Director of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association. They are in favor of the slots measure.

Others will be voting for the measure, even though they do not like the tactics of the governor. "Governor O'Malley has been against slots when he was a mayor of Baltimore, but now, all of a sudden he gets to be governor and his position changes. The only difference is now the state finances reflect on him, so he will sell out his morals for his reputation. It's sad, but I don't care, I'm voting for the slots anyway," said Jason Lertzman, from Maryland.

November 1, 2008
Posted By Larry Rutherford
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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