Special session for slots bill considered

Tom Stuckey

Friday, May 7, 2004 | 9:12 a.m.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- A plan to let voters decide in November whether to legalize slot machines in Maryland is being considered by legislative leaders, raising the possibility of a special session this summer to debate the contentious issue.

House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller discussed the proposal Monday over steaks at an Annapolis restaurant, and Miller plans to bring up the idea with Gov. Robert Ehrlich.

But Busch said Thursday that the talks are only "in an embryonic stage."

"It's very premature to suggest that anything will happen," the Anne Arundel County Democrat said. "The only thing Miller and I agreed to was to sit down with the governor and see if it (a special session) is plausible."

Miller, a strong supporter of slot machines, said he is trying to come up with a plan that will be acceptable to Ehrlich and Busch, who played a key role in defeating the governor's slots bill the last two years.

Ehrlich's reaction to the proposal for a referendum was less than enthusiastic. The governor has consistently objected to putting the issue before voters, saying public officials are elected to make tough decisions and not hand them off to the voters.

Asked by WBAL-TV Wednesday about the new slots proposal, Ehrlich said, "I've seen this movie before, and it has a bad ending."

If the plan is just another excuse by Busch and House Democrats to kill a slots bill, he said he is not interested.

Busch said when Miller suggested going to the governor to talk about a slots referendum, "I said, 'Sure, I'll sit down and listen.' That's about it."

He said before a special session could be held, there would have to be a consensus among House and Senate leaders and the governor on what form the slots bill would take.

Ehrlich said he would prefer a bill that would not require voter approval instead of a constitutional amendment that would have to go on the ballot. But he has not ruled out a referendum.

"I will meet with the speaker. I will meet with the president," Ehrlich said in the television interview.

In the past, Busch has insisted on linking slot machines with a tax increase, saying slot machine revenue alone will not solve the state's financial problems. But he said Wednesday it probably would not be feasible to consider taxes at a special session.

A constitutional amendment to authorize slot machines would require 85 House votes instead of the simple majority of 71 votes needed to pass a bill. With slots machines tied to a major tax increase, getting 85 votes would be a virtually unreachable goal.

Busch said before he would consider a special session, there would have be substantial agreement on how slot machine gambling would be implemented. Major issues to be resolved include how many machines would be authorized, where they would be located and how the proceeds would be divided.

Miller and Ehrlich have backed slot machines at racetracks, but the speaker thinks the state would get more money if some of the slots were put at non-track locations.

The governor's bill, which passed the Senate at the recently concluded legislative session, would have authorized up to 15,500 machines at three racetracks and three nontrack locations. Fiscal advisers said the state could collect $800 million or more a year once all the machines were in operation.