Franchot Chides O'Malley On Slots
Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) blasted Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) this morning for making his proposals to expand health care access and hold down college tuition contingent on passage of a referendum legalizing slot-machine gambling.
"It seems as though everything under the sun is being linked to slots," Franchot told reporters. "It just seems we're more interested in lining the pockets of the national gambling industry than fixing the structural deficit."
Franchot's comments came at the outset of day three of a special session called by O'Malley to close a $1.7 billion budget shortfall. O'Malley has proposed a slots plan that would eventually yield $700 million a year for the state.
The governor's aides yesterday detailed plans to legislators to make several proposals contingent on passage of a slots referendum in 2008.
If the ballot measure fails, O'Malley would shelve his plan to roll back the state property tax rate from 11.2 cents to 8.2 cents per $100 in assessed value. About $300 million a year in dedicated school construction funding would not materialize. Nor would $60 million a year in dedicated funding to universities that could be used to hold down tuition costs.
O'Malley's proposal to expand access to health care would help fewer people, becoming a $100 million-a-year initiative rather than a $250 million-a-year initiative once fully phased in.
O'Malley said yesterday that he wants to avoid "the same trap" of past legislative sessions: increasing spending and cutting taxes without sufficient revenue to pay for it.
Franchot, a former delegate, also renewed questions today about the widsom of holding a special session, calling it a "bad idea" and suggesting lawmakers defer action on most issues until their regular session that starts in January.
"We're having a mini-regular session now in a highly charged atmosphere," he said.
By John Wagner |
October 31, 2007; 12:25 PM ET
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John Wagner
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Posted by: Robin Ficker of Robin Realty | October 31, 2007 1:04 PM
Follow the Money. How much has the Governor and those who support the slots taken in campaign contributions from gambling interests? I am from WV and the gambling interests virtually own the Governor and Legislature there. Beware MD, if you get slots, get the best deal you can get because the gambling interests will not stop lining the pockets of your politicians to ensure favorable legislation every year like they do in WV. They will not say no to 25% because they will still make a ton of money at that. Too bad WV is to corrupt to have realized that previously; as the government is more beholden to the casinos than the citizens.
Posted by: Joe | November 1, 2007 12:48 AM
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I know Franchot is smart. I've talked to his kids and they are smart too. So why doesn't he come out four square against this regressive 20% hike in the state sales tax which 70% of Marylanders oppose according to the Washington Post poll? Or, why not have a referendum on this sales tax hike? Come on Pete, speak out. You know O'Malley isn't going to be reelected if this sales tax hike goes through.