O’Malley’s Latest Gamble: Making Stuff Up About Slots

Not content making stuff up about electricity rates or covering stuff up about Maryland’s faltering economy, Martin O’Malley is now misleading Marylanders about his failed slots machine legacy. Every dishonest attack ad he runs this campaign is another attempt to cover up his record of rising job losses, record tax increases, and ballooning debt. Here are the real facts about slot machines in Maryland. 

·         For twenty years, Bob Ehrlich advocated for slot machines at Maryland race tracks. He believes deeply that a strong slots program is vital to rescuing Maryland’s storied horse racing industry and helping the State meet its commitment to fully fund public schools.

·         During Bob Ehrlich’s tenure as Governor, the Maryland General Assembly insisted that slots legislation include non-racetrack locations. To reach bipartisan compromise, Bob Ehrlich agreed to put aside his “slots at tracks” preference and accept slots at non-track locations. Still, the legislature didn’t pass a slots bill.

·         Martin O’Malley in 2007 passed legislation that made Arundel Mills Mall an eligible location for slots. You can read the legislation by clicking here.  The citizens of Maryland and Anne Arundel County approved this plan by referendum on Election Day in November 2008.

·        The legislation allowing slots at Arundel Mills Mall was conceived by Martin O’Malley, drafted by Martin O’Malley, signed by Martin O’Malley, and implemented by Martin O’Malley.

·         Two years later, 4 out of 5 of Martin O’Malley’s slots venues remain dormant, while Marylanders continue spend money and build schools in West Virginia and Delaware.  The O’Malley plan is an unmitigated disaster. Now, O’Malley is flip-flopping his position on slots in Anne Arundel County.  The (Baltimore) Sun has denounced O’Malley, saying he “smacks of political opportunism” and “fiscal recklessness.”

·         To demonstrate how poorly the O’Malley Administration handled the implementation of slots, no proposals exist to put slots anywhere in Anne Arundel County other than Arundel Mills Mall.  The proposal to put slots at Laurel Park race track was disqualified.

·         Bob Ehrlich has concluded that Arundel Mills Mall is an appropriate venue for slots for three reasons: 1) The State needs immediate revenue from slots to help fund education and balance $8 billion in deficits O’Malley leaves the next Governor, 2) the O’Malley Administration has so bungled the process that no other options for the County currently exist, and 3) Maryland’s horse racing industry will still receive significant revenue from slots even if they are not at race tracks.