As Referendum Nears, Slots Battle Moves to New Territory -- Television

Apro-slots group last week became the first to air television ads in advance of Maryland's referendum next month on expanding legalized gambling.

The 30-second spot, sponsored by For Maryland For Our Future, opens with an image of schoolchildren sitting in a classroom and asks: "Can Maryland afford not to pass slots in November?"

The ad, which is airing only in the Baltimore market, says slots would raise $660 million a year for educational programs. That figure is based on an analysis by legislative staff for proceeds in fiscal 2013.

The ad goes on to contend that slots opponents have proposed hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes as an alternative. That claim, which also appears in a radio ad by the same pro-slots group, has drawn the ire of a leading anti-slots group.

In a letter last week to 12 radio stations in Washington and Baltimore, Marylanders United to Stop Slots asked that the stations pull those ads.

"These advertisements are false and misleading, and knowingly misstate facts and positions on the issue," wrote Scott Arceneaux, senior adviser to the anti-slots group. "For the sake of both [Federal Communication Commission] licensing requirements and the public interest, your station should refuse to continue to air these advertisements immediately."

As back-up for their television ad, the pro-slots group cited a couple of references to elected officials and other anti-slots activists suggesting taxes as an alternative to slots revenue. Those included a rally at which several Montgomery elected officials voiced support for increases in income, alcohol and legal and consulting services taxes.

Marylanders United to Stop Slots has not taken a position on an alternative to slots revenue. The group argues that proceeds will be undercut by costs related to social ills that slots could increase, such as addiction and prostitution.

-- John Wagner

O'Malley Praised for StateStat

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) received recent attention for his governing -- in October's Governing magazine and at a conference hosted by the publication.

A story headlined "Stat Governor" explores O'Malley's launch of CitiStat while mayor of Baltimore and asks how well the statistics-driven initiative is translating on the state level.

"Although it's too early to call StateStat a definite success, the strategy has unquestionably helped Maryland get a grip on a few fundamentals," Governing notes.

The program apparently is enough of a success to have rated a speech Friday at the magazine's Managing Performance 2008 Conference in Austin. O'Malley was scheduled to speak in person, but wound up submitting a videotape because scheduling changes kept him in Maryland.

-- John Wagner

Most Influential in Montgomery

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) tops the list of the most influential Montgomery politicians nominated by readers of the blog Maryland Politics Watch, with Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in second place.

Other Democrats making the top 10: State Sen. Richard S. Madeleno Jr., at No. 3, praised for his knowledge of the complex state budget. Sen. Brian E. Frosh, at No. 4, a "low-key" legislator who has "learned to play the Annapolis game without abandoning his liberal principles."

Del. Sheila E. Hix son takes fifth place, with council member Marc Elrich (At large) and state Comptroller Peter Franchot tied for sixth. Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler and council President Michael Knapp (Upcounty) are tied at No. 8, with council member Valerie Ervin (Silver Spring) and Sen. Jamie B. Raskin tied for 10th.

-- Lisa Rein