Maryland governor presses case for slot machines

Single Sign-On: You can use Facebook account to log in to LasVegasSun.com. (We will use your first and last name from your profile.)
Trusted Commenting: Facebook connected users automatically become trusted commenters.

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003 | 9:45 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich warned he might cut the state budget unless lawmakers vote to legalize slot machines in the next few weeks, the Washington Post reported.

Earlier this week Ehrlich told lawmakers he was still reworking the details of his proposal and didn't know when it would be completed, the newspaper said.

In a speech to a House of Delegates committee Tuesday, Ehrlich said gambling was necessary to generate revenue to save Maryland's horse industry, improve public schools and rescue the state from a budget shortfall, the Post reported.

"It seems to me your options are fairly limited," Ehrlich said, according to the newspaper. "I know some people in the Legislature want to kill the slot bill and want to pass tax increases. I will veto those tax bills. The people did not elect this administration to pass a major tax increase."