Md. House Backs Referendum on Legalizing Slots

Yesterday's debate came as leaders of both chambers sought to bring to a conclusion a session called by O'Malley to close the budget shortfall and raise additional revenue for transportation and health-care priorities. The two chambers have passed differing bills that would raise an additional $1.4 billion in annual tax revenue and direct O'Malley to cut about $500 million from next year's budget.

O'Malley told reporters last night that he considered the House slots vote "a major tipping point."

"Tonight was a major move forward with some bipartisan help for resolving this impasse and letting the people decide," O'Malley said.

The referendum bills that have now passed both chambers are only four pages in length, serving to establish the issue that would appear on the presidential ballot next year. The implementation bill, which a House subcommittee approved after making minor changes last night, is more than 60 pages.

That bill addresses issues including how proceeds from the machines would be divided among the state, slots parlor operators and the horse-racing industry. The bill also outlines the criteria that a commission would use to award licenses at locations detailed in the bill.

The implementation bill only requires a simple majority, or 71 delegates, for passage. But it could prove just as difficult to move through the House. Some anti-slots delegates who were persuaded to vote for the referendum bill are not expected to vote for the second bill.

In their search for votes, O'Malley and Democratic leaders were hampered by an announcement by House Republicans that they would not support slots in a special session, even though most of the GOP caucus supported slots under former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R).

By withholding their votes, Republicans hoped to leverage more spending cuts. But five Republicans wound up joining 81 Democrats in voting for the referendum bill, providing the margin for passage.

O'Malley also reached out to the Montgomery delegation, pledging additional school construction dollars if more members came on board, several lawmakers said. Sixteen of the 24 delegates from Montgomery voted for the bill yesterday.

Del. Jane E. Lawton (D-Montgomery), a slots opponent, said she was swayed by a desire to "put this issue to bed" and by the school funding that she said was discussed at a meeting of the governor, County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) and undecided delegates.

Seventeen of the 23 Prince George's delegates also voted for the referendum bill.

"I think most of us are still 'no' votes on the issue of slots," said Del. Dereck E. Davis (D-Prince George's). But he said many in the delegation felt the impasse was preventing progress on other priorities, such as health care and the environment.