Governor weighs slot expansion

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2003 | 9:53 a.m.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Gov. Robert Ehrlich denied a report that he has decided to seek authority to install 13,500 slot machines at three racetracks, but he said his plan may go beyond the 10,000 slots he proposed during his campaign for governor.

"No final decision has been made. Not even close," Ehrlich said today in an interview as he headed to his office.

The 13,500 number was raised at a briefing Tuesday on Ehrlich's budget for House and Senate budget committees. Warren Deschenaux, the General Assembly's chief financial adviser, said Ehrlich is planning on $600 million in new gambling revenues for the budget two years from now, a figure he said could not be raised with the 10,000 slot machines Ehrlich proposed during the gubernatorial campaign.

Delegate Howard P. Rawlings, D-Baltimore, a leading legislative proponent of slot machines, said 13,500 slot machines was exorbitant.

"I would vote against slot machines of that magnitude," said Rawlings, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Asked about claims that he had already decided on 13,500 slot machines at just three tracks, Ehrlich said, "Everybody is just putting their markers down."