| Page 2 of 2 < |
O'Malley Plan Puts Slots Issue To Voters
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
"Every one of these locations has a population surrounding it -- churches, schools, neighborhoods," said Aaron Meisner, chairman of StopSlotsMaryland. "These people are not going to stand by and be victimized by this industry."
[an error occurred while processing this directive]"I think it's time to let the people decide," O'Malley said last night.
Busch declined to say whether he would work to defeat a public referendum or to predict the chances for its passage. Miller was attending a family event and unavailable for comment, aides said.
O'Malley's announcement yesterday marked the latest movement in his position on slots. As a candidate last year, he advocated placing a "limited" number of machines only at tracks to prop up Maryland's horse-racing industry.
Last month, he announced that he would introduce legislation "very similar" to a failed 2005 plan that sought to legalize 9,500 machines at racetracks and other locations in Allegany, Anne Arundel, Frederick and Harford counties.
As he struggled to secure broad support for that plan this month, O'Malley began exploring the possibility of a referendum. He agreed to boost the number of machines in the legislation to accommodate Miller, who has pushed bills in the past calling for as many as 15,500 machines.
Inclusion of a Baltimore location is a new development. There had been debate in the past about whether to place slots at Pimlico, home of the Preakness Stakes. But that venue would not be eligible under the legislation unveiled yesterday.
In a letter to O'Malley yesterday, Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon (D) said she is interested in the possibility of a slots facility outside of downtown but accessible to the Inner Harbor and Camden Yards.
