Md. General Assembly should take up Slots in January

In the late afternoon yesterday, the Maryland House of Delegates barely approved a constitutional amendment allowing the approval of Slots (video lottery terminals) to go to Referendum and be placed on the Ballot for the November 2008 elections.

The 86-52 vote was one vote over the required 85 votes (60%) needed for passage of a constitutional amendment. After several days of debate and suggested changes to the five proposed locations across the state, the House passed Governor Martin O'Malley's proposed legislation with one amendment.

The amendment spelled out these locations in the legislation would not supersede local zoning regulations. This was a result of heavy lobbying by local officials who oppose slots in their jurisdictions.

As a result of the House amendment, it will have to go back to the Maryland Senate for final approval. This makes it very interesting for Senate President Thomas "Mike" Miller has already expressed displeasure over the fact the House failed to vote on the companion Slots Bill which is the Bill that spells out how Slots would be implemented. He correctly pointed out that without passage of the companion Bill, the State has nothing.

The Md. House passage of the Referendum for Slots came after intense lobbying by the Governor and his staff to salvage his proposed Slots legislation. But unless the Md. Senate agrees with the amendment pertaining to local zoning, the Governor will not have his legislation approved.

Senate President Miller was correct when it was reported he said, prior to the Special Session being called by the Governor, that the elected representatives should do what they were elected to do - make decisions and not have the vote go to a referendum.

Although the Md. Senate President is a walking billboard providing support for those who believe in term limits, Miller was right in this case. There is just too much to try to determine and legislate to put this issue on a Ballot for vote. It will be impossible for all the legislation to be spelled out on a Ballot in a manner the voter will understand.

In addition, the Governor has said the Slots debate in Maryland has lasted longer than the Civil War. Well, if this referendum is passed into law, the battle for and against Slots in Maryland will intensify and last another year. Both sides of the issue will lobby hard and spend millions to try to convince voters to vote their way. What will they be voting for if the enabling legislation is not passed by the House prior to the Referendum?

All of this effort put forth in this Special Session of the General Assembly and the revenues from the approval of Slots will not help the State's coffers until 2009. It makes much more sense to craft this legislation during the regular session of the Md. General Assembly and if Slots are approved, have the revenues benefit the State now.

The General Assembly in this special session should concentrate on the passage and final approval of the spending cuts and tax adjustments proposed by Governor O'Malley that will mitigate the 1.7 billion budget deficit.

Then take up the approval of Slots during the regular session starting in January when there is time to provide for public input and thoroughly discuss the many complex components of the implementation of Slots. Finally, Maryland representatives should do what they are elected to do, vote yes or no on Slots during the regular session.