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Ehrlich slot bill dead { April 3 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20030403-88391839.htmhttp://washingtontimes.com/metro/20030403-88391839.htm
Ehrlich bill to legalize slots 'dead' in House
S.A. Miller
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published April 3, 2003
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A Maryland House committee yesterday rejected Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich's bill to legalize slot-machine gambling, blocking a vote by the full chamber on the measure and killing its chances for passage this year.
Facing a $2 billion budget shortfall, Maryland would require deeper budget cuts, layoffs of state workers and tax increases in the absence of revenue from slot machines at horse-racing tracks, of which $700 million would have been earmarked for public schools.
House Speaker Michael E. Busch, the chief opponent of the bill, had said the House Ways and Means Committee's vote would keep the slots issue from going to the full House, prompting speculation that the bill's fate was sealed yesterday.
"For right now, it's dead," House Majority Leader Kumar P. Barve, Montgomery County Democrat, told WRC-TV (Channel 4).
An Ehrlich spokeswoman characterized the Ways and Means Committee's 16-5 vote against slots as a "small setback" and reiterated the Republican governor's determination to win the slots battle with House Democratic leaders.
"This is one vote on one bill, not the end of the legislation by any means," said Ehrlich spokeswoman Shareese N. DeLeaver. "The issue is long from over."
Only five of the 22 members of the Ways and Means Committee — four Republicans and one Democrat — supported the governor's bill to put 3,500 machines at each of three existing racetracks and up to 1,000 machines at a proposed track in Allegany County. Mr. Ehrlich has made the proposal the cornerstone of his agenda since taking office in January.
"Today, one committee stood in the way of $700 million for school kids," said Budget Secretary James C. "Chip" DiPaula, adding that he doesn't have much hope for the bill being revived in the last days of the General Assembly.
However, Mr. Ehrlich and other slots proponents remain optimistic that the legislation is still alive as the legislative session ticks down to its Monday deadline.
Slots legislation is included in the Senate's budget bill, which could revive debate on the issue during conference committee negotiations on the budget.
In addition, two other viable House bills that contain slots provisions could be reworked in conference to replicate the slots bill and then sent to the full House. For example, a bill calling for a yearlong moratorium on slots legislation while the issue is studied could be rewritten as a slots bill.
Regardless, Miss DeLeaver said the committee's vote would not soften the governor's resolve against the higher income or sales taxes being pushed by the Democrat-controlled General Assembly.
"Taxes will not balance the budget," she said. "The committee made a decision that is one step closer to draconian cuts that will affect public safety, local aid and higher education programs."
Delegate David G. Boschert, Anne Arundel County Republican and member of the Ways and Means Committee, said he voted against the governor's bill because his constituents oppose gambling.
"We need to look at responsible methods of budget cuts and merging agencies. We need to cut back excessive spending," he said. "We have to do everything in our power to resolve this with the understanding that tax hikes and slots are a last resort."
Mr. Ehrlich's bill passed the Senate but stalled in the House, where the speaker mounted stiff opposition.
Mr. Busch, Anne Arundel County Democrat, drew criticism from other Democrats as well as Republicans, who said the bill would have been approved by the committee and by the House if the speaker had not used the considerable powers of his office to kill it.
"He wanted to send a message that he can marshal his troops if he wants to," said House Minority Leader Alfred W. Redmer Jr., Baltimore County Republican.
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., Prince George's County Democrat and the governor's most powerful ally on slots, said he thought the bill could have escaped the committee if Mr. Busch had not opposed it.
Comptroller William Donald Schaefer, a Democrat, also said Mr. Busch should bring the bill out of committee. "Don't stop the democratic process from happening," he said.
Mr. Busch left his State House office before the vote, and aides said he would not comment on the committee action. He has opposed the bill from the start, arguing that the governor and his staff hurriedly put together a bill that is a bad deal for the state and gives a monopoly on slot-machine gambling to a few track owners.
Mr. Busch and other House opponents said slot machines should be part of a package that includes tax increases to fund public schools and solve the state's long-range fiscal problems.
Mr. Miller said he also thinks a significant tax increase is needed, but Mr. Ehrlich has refused to accept any plan to tie the slots bill to a tax increase.
Delegate Sheila E. Hixson, Montgomery County Democrat and chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, said they would study the slots issue over the summer and offer a better bill next year.
Mr. Ehrlich has said repeatedly that slots had to be approved this year or not at all, but that may have been merely an attempt to pressure lawmakers into supporting his bill.
The version of the slots bill that passed the Senate would have raised $15 million in application fees and a small amount of gambling revenue for fiscal 2004, which begins July 1. But the administration said revenue would increase to $700 million a year when the 10,500 machines were in operation at Laurel, Pimlico and Rosecroft racetracks.
•This article is based in part on wire service reports.
Copyright © 2003 News World Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
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