Md. Chamber of Commerce to Endorse Slots
The Maryland Chamber of Commerce will announce its support today for the proposal on the November ballot question to legalize slot machine gambling in the state.
The 850-member business group has supported slots since the General Assembly first debated the issue during the Ehrlich adminstration. Last week, the chamber's board of directors voted formally to endorse the referendum and the coalition organizing to get it passed, joining the Maryland Association of Counties and the state teachers association.
Chamber spokesman Will Burns said the group has made no decisions on whether it will offer financial backing to the pro-slots campaign. But at a minimum, the chamber will be active in the grassroots campaign to pass slots "and let people know what the altneratives are," he said.
"If the referendum fails, we expect more budget cuts, higher taxes or a combination of both," Burns said. If Marylanders end up paying higher taxes, "the business community will be in the crosshairs."
By
Lisa Rein
|
April 29, 2008; 8:33 AM ET
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Lisa Rein
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Posted by: Robin Ficker Broker Robin Realty | April 29, 2008 10:56 AM | Report abuse
Robin, get ready for $5+ a gallon gas. Today in Belgium, it is $9 a gallon. I guess the Belgians are lucky they have a small country.
Posted by: Count Bobulescu | April 30, 2008 2:27 AM | Report abuse
Sigh, yes, I think we all know $5.00/gallon is coming. Exxon is tasting blood and also they sense that $4.00/gallon has NOT diminshed sales.
Concerning slots and gas prices, I'm sure the fat-cats sitting in the "Chamber of Commerce" are not affected in the least as long as they get their slice of the pie!
Posted by: R U Dreaming | April 30, 2008 11:05 AM | Report abuse
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The chamber did not oppose the 20% increase in the state sales tax which every citizen pays every day. WHY NOT?
Giving this governor and legislature more money from slots will not slake their appetite for more and it will not stem their rush to tax increases. It will only encourage them. We need somebody running statewide who is calling for a cut in taxes in a recession with $4 gas.
Can you believe that County Executive Leggett and County Council President Knapp are calling for a increase in the gasoline tax?