From Sen. Nancy Jacobs:
Today the bill that would expand gambling by allowing a 6th casino in Prince George’s County is fiercely debated on the floor of the Maryland Senate.
Senator Nancy Jacobs stood to offer three amendments that would benefit those living in Cecil County and the town of Perryville by bringing more dollars to local government from gambling revenue. “I am worried about the people of Cecil County who count on a percentage of the gambling revenue from Perryville. Yet the receipts at that casino have dropped sharply since the Maryland Live Casino opened. It is critical to continue to support the citizens of Cecil and not think first of special interest groups!”
One amendment asked that the local government impact grant minimum be doubled. Sen. Jacobs’ argued that in light of recent revenue losses at Hollywood Casino the locals need an assurance of support. Despite a tough fight for these various changes, every amendment offered to improve Cecil County’s status in the expanded gambling bill was voted down. Other Republican Senators fighting for their more rural districts were also stifled by the Democratic Machine!
We expect there will be a vote on this gambling bill later this weekend or early next week. If it passes, I urge you to go to the polls in November and overturn this expanded gambling bill referendum with your vote. It is time that the leaders in Annapolis learned they can’t go against the will of the people of this state by favoring special interests.
Forget about it, Nancy. The skids are greased. Or should I have said palms? It’s a done deal. Originally the Dems said no special session but then they were made to see the folly of their ways by the super-duper Dems so now there is a special session meeting at this very moment.
How about that PG County Exec? He didn’t take a page from the Jack Johnson play book, he took the whole darn book and added a few chapters of his own. Very, very slick dude. Maybe too slick.
I am not speaking in favor of or against any of the other casinos or proposals to build them.
However, Hollywood Casino may need to step up its’ game as far as entertainment. The casino got them started. Now, they have to compete with the rest. Shouldn’t they be thinking about creating additional attractions along with the casino in order to entice customers to the area.
I’m not a gambler but, I did go there just for a walk through. The casino is the only thing there. No theaters, no clubs, no shopping, concert halls, etc…
It is smack dab in the middle of a rural area. Why not cater to rural interest as well as boost the charm and attraction of the rural environment and its’ culture along those lines?
For instance, I’m sure many who frequent the area are country music fans. Why not build an amphitheater and create another venue such as “The Grande Ole Opry” attracting live acts? Create a shopping district featuring everything from exclusive western style clothing, outdoor equipment, activities, etc…
Think about locating high end gun shops, ranges, skeet ranges. Boating equipment, motorcycle dealerships, a bike raceway, tack shops, etc…
Of course, these are just suggestions at stimulating the economy through the free enterprise system using entrepreneurship. That casino is just a start.
That’s just competition!
Yes Hollywood Casino, needs to step it up, it really is a boring place, and the food sucks
The problem is Maryland has taxed the dickens out of everyone and now all of a sudden Casinos all over like 7/11’s are the answer as the well has dried up. Folks are fleeing Baltimore City, the folks who actually pay for the “programs” all over the city, and the State all of a sudden wants to turn Maryland into a coin purse with neon lights.
A casino for entertainment is one thing, but when you start putting on in every county because you know the budget shortfall is coming fast and hard, there is a problem. Senator Jacobs, while I support your efforts, my problem is this. No county should be dependent on a Casinos revenue. The Casino should not have been built there in the first place..location..location..location.
Now you have a fundamental argument over who gets Casino’s and why there should be no more built. Once Owe-Malley realized he could get some money in the coffers for a budget shortfall that will be habitual, he decided Erlich somehow was right all along. Its simply sickening how Maryland is turning into a swamp casino’s. I bet we will have more casinos per square mile than most states. How sick is it that you have teachers unions screaming for gambling because its gonna save their schools….can you smell the manure. Like kids NEED casino’s in order to be fed and sleep at night. Please…there will never be enough money in Maryland to fund all these ridiculous programs that waste money.
Perryville should not be dependent on the casino’s for revenue to begin with, cut all these unfunded programs and stop the handouts. Stop punishing the Science and Technology, Manufacturing, and Entrepreneurial spirit by taxing the crap out of everyone. Baltimore will never recover if it keeps sending it residents out in droves to surrounding counties. The Robin Hood theory does NOT WORK.
A last example if you will, Casinos are just overdraft on lame budgets and refusal to make the tough decisions. Stop putting band aids on compound fractures.
Perryville is not dependent on the Casino for much of anything. It gets some money and uses it for a variety of projects, but since the Cecil County Commissioners have expanded the grant to the entire County, there are a myriad of private and not for profit organizations that benefit from the casino funds.
While beneficial, those funds are a very small part of the budgets of Perryville and Cecil County.
That said, and where Jacobs’ concern comes from, is that the money these various organizations get is a significant part of their very small budgets. Without this money, things will not get done.
Whether they should or need to be done, is another argument for another County.
PUBLIUS: Very good point: “…free enterprise system using entrepreneurship.” People like Nancy are very good about touting free enterprise until it does not work, then they want the government to bail them out with public money: Ex nilhilo nihil fit.
ALEX don’t be ready to malign someone without proof.
PTBL,
Rushern Baker is your guy, Proud. One of the many Dem ultra Libs your party puts forth and elects. What are you telling me, the guy is pristine? No shady deals? All of the ‘mistakes’ were just innocent misunderstanings? C’mon! The guy is an attorney and was a partner in a law firm. He’s not dumb, is he? How long are you going to defend him?
I was just shocked Harford Senator JB Jennings sold out to O’Malley and Miller and voted for this mess. I hope the Harford side of the district can find someone to run from Jarrettsville area.
What surprises me is that Miler and Omalley are willing to set up a venue for a subsidiary of organized crime. I didn’t think our state government would allow any competition to their already up and running crime syndicate.
And thus do we have the origin of the designation ‘partners in crime’? Just a wee joke. Or was it ‘politics make for strange bedfellows’? Oh, wait, that’s one of the other issues on the ballot. Let’s not go there on this post.
Anyway, the Maryland political leadership are absolutely crazed for more money to spend in any form from any source. There are so many crises out there that they must solve. It is for the good of the ……whatever. You fill in the blank. Actually, there is only one word and that is for the good of themselves. The next election to be financed. The next office they want to run for. The next appearance on television. The glowing adoration of their followers.
Somehow, once again, the More Equal Animals are telling me what is good for me.
I think Sen. Jennings caught the democrat flu while in Annapolis. I don’t see what benefit a new casino will bring to Harford Co. except reduce the taxes for Hollywood casino which we taxpayers will eventually make up. The politicans will spend twice as much as they take in so we’ll always be in debt and the taxpayers will always be called upon to make up the difference.
Most of the people in Cecil County didn’t even want the casino. All those I know were fiercely opposed.