http://www.examiner.com/a-1053279~Md__House_approves_slots_referendum.html

Md. House approves slots referendum

BRIAN WITTE, The Associated Press

The Baltimore Examiner

November 16, 2007

A measure to hold a referendum in November 2008 on whether to legalize slot machine gambling in Maryland was approved Friday by the House of Delegates, clearing a big hurdle to give voters a chance to decide what lawmakers have been unable to resolve themselves.

The measure was passed on an 86-52 vote, just one vote above the 85 needed to create a constitutional amendment to legalize slot machines. The bill now goes to the Senate, where a different measure has been approved.

House Speaker Michael Busch, who has been wary of legalizing slot machines in past years, said he believed the constitutional amendment and referendum are "the appropriate way to go," because voters are ready to have a say on it.

"I think the citizens of Maryland want a resolution to it," Busch, D-Anne Arundel, told reporters after the vote.

Gov. Martin O'Malley, who has been pushing for the legalization of slot machines to help fund education, assist a troubled horse-racing industry and address future budget deficits, described the vote as "a major move forward."

"Today was a real positive step forward for not only resolving our fiscal challenges, but also for resolving this impasse by letting the people decide," O'Malley, a Democrat said.

The vote followed a lengthy debate, with opponents denouncing slots as a tax on the poor and supporters saying the machines will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in coming years for education and health.

Delegate Luiz Simmons, D-Montgomery, argued against the bill, describing it as "a Trojan horse to sneak slot machine gambling into Maryland through the back door." He tried unsuccessfully to amend the bill to enable localities to opt out of having slot machines in their counties. An amendment he introduced to ban the owners of slot machine licenses from making political contributions also failed.

"Long after Gov. O'Malley has gone into the record books as a successful governor, I hope, long after that, each of us is going to have to reconcile ourselves to our own political conscience - with great difficulty, I think Mr. Speaker, with great difficulty."

But Delegate Joseph Vallario, D-Prince George's, said it was time to let the voters' voices be heard.

"This bill could have the name on it: 'Thou shall be heard' - that the voters shall be heard," Vallario said.

Others argued for the financial benefits, even though they won't appear for a couple of years, if voters approve slots.

Murray Levy, D-Charles, focused on how hundreds of millions of dollars from slots would affect state programs and education. "The simple question I have asked the opponents - and I have yet to get my answer," Levy said, "is which of these programs are you going to cut or recommend be cut when this $650 million is cut out?"

There are some differences between the constitutional amendment bills passed by the House and the Senate. The main difference between the two measures is a House provision defining how the state would consider future expansions to gambling. If lawmakers decide to have more than five slot machine sites, more machines or new games, it would take a majority vote in the House and Senate and a referendum. The Senate bill would require a three-fifths vote.

The House cleared a big hurdle by passing the constitutional amendment bill, but others remain. The House still needs to find support for a bill that goes along with the referendum measure, outlining crucial details such as how the money and machines will be distributed. A House subcommittee met after Friday's vote to discuss that bill, and the House Ways and Means Committee was scheduled to meet Saturday morning, possibly to work on the bill.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller reacted angrily to talk that lawmakers were considering only passing the referendum bill in the special session and then wait until the next legislative session in January to take up the details.

"It's like selling a car, and the people make payments on it for a year and there's no motor in the car, so it doesn't go," Miller said Friday. "It doesn't work until you come back and pass a bill, like you could do right now."

Miller has been cool to the idea of a referendum, preferring to have lawmakers make the decision. He also expressed his reluctance to embrace the referendum part of the House bill's amendment, but he indicated his willingness to compromise.

"If that's what it takes to pass a bill then I'm amenable, just like I was amenable to the referendum initially, even though I disliked it very much," Miller said.

Miller added: "Compromise is not a dirty word, but you can only give so much, but I will not give on the fact that they're going to pass just a referendum bill and not the other bill."

If voters approve, slot machines would be placed in Anne Arundel, Cecil and Worcester counties, in the city of Baltimore and on state property at the Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort near Cumberland.