From Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot:
“The passage of legislation that will pave the way for a Las Vegas-style casino in Prince George’s County, while offering lucrative tax cuts and other critical concessions to casino operators throughout the state, illustrates the tightening control that the national gambling industry now exerts over Maryland’s political process.
There never was a fiscal or an economic rationale for reconvening the Maryland General Assembly for its third special session in less than a year. Any revenues that will be generated by a new casino in Prince George’s County will take several years to materialize and, if the past is any indication, have been drastically overestimated by gambling supporters and legislative analysts.
Furthermore, any modest revenues that will result from this new MGM casino will be offset to a large extent by the deep tax cuts that have been awarded by the legislature to MGM’s in-state competitors. Finally, lawmakers have been duly warned that it would be grossly premature to break ground on a sixth gambling casino without knowing if the marketplace could even support the ones we already have. Despite the limited reward and abundant risks of acting in undue haste, the General Assembly chose to move forward.
While the events of the past few days have been extremely profitable for the national gambling industry, they have been calamitous to those who still value open, transparent and progressive government. The irregular nature of this session provided no meaningful forum for members of the public to attend public hearings, express their opinions and ask hard questions. It denied citizens the chance to review “real-time” campaign finance reports and draw their own conclusions. The final product – tax cuts of 25 percent or more for casino operators, from the same legislature that has repeatedly raised taxes, fees and tolls on small businesses and middle class families – is the most regressive act of public policy that I have seen in 25 years in public life.
In less than three months, voters in Prince George’s County and throughout Maryland will vote to ratify or reject this proposal. Ultimately, this referendum will not be about whether Marylanders approve of slot machines and support their legalization. That matter has been decided. Rather, this will be about the type of government Marylanders want, and the kind of state we wish to leave to our kids. This is a question of whether we will allow the national gambling industry to control our political process from the backrooms of Annapolis, or whether we will take a stand for open, transparent and progressive government – one that is actually committed to getting Maryland’s fiscal house in order and reviving our troubled economy the right way. This will be a fight for Maryland’s future, and it’s one I look forward to joining.”
I am glad to see that at least all of O’Tax Me’s people are not morons. How much more can the state endure from his majestys’, “Let Them Eat Cake”, attitude?
This is just another development for the sake of development – keep the construction workers employed, or else! How the St of Md, as tiny as it is, can expect to make money on 6 gambling sites is pure hallucination. Hollywood Casino should close in 2 years, whatever is built in Balto. City will never make a profit and The National Casino in PG County will have to compete for this name with Wall Street. Meanwhile, we can’t figure out how to keep a steel mill in business. End of America.
The union trades will be the only ones making a profit off of gambling in MD. Every time one operator calls it quits and bails, MD will sweeten the deal until someone else comes in and takes over, that operator will then require a face lift to breathe new life into the facility which means a lot of work for the trades.
I never thought I would say it but this guy Franchot is starting to look like the first Democrat I would even consider voting for since Willy Don Schaefer. Franchot is probably positioning himself for a run at the office of Governor and that’s why he is so visible – sheesh, the guy is everywhere. Depends on who would run against him but in Maryland the Republican Party is a sad lot when it comes to finding and running top notch candidates. I wasn’t a big fan of Schaefer but I knew at least 2 things about him. First, I knew where he stood and what he was thinking. Second, he wasn’t crooked in the criminal sense of the word. I’m not sure we have had a governor since then where both were true. I sure would like to know what Franchot’s relations are like with Miller and Busch, especially Miller. If Miller can’t stand him then Franchot goes up another notch in my view.
I agree completely. Any politician who speaks the truth and does not care what party said what is worth listening to. It is obvious Franchot does not like O’Malley and knows the man is a bald face liar, nothing more. To think he could be president is laughable, but also scary at the same time.
Obama is president. Haven’t we been scared enough?
Comptroller Franchot said above “This is a question of whether we will allow the national gambling industry to control our political process from the backrooms of Annapolis.”
Mr. Franchot, they already have taken control. And they have secured for themselves a further tax cut of 25% or more according to your article above. They got the tax cut and Marylanders got a tax increase. And we will likely get another increase because the revenue to the state from gambling will fall short of expectations in the future and we will be required to make up the difference.