League of Women Voters of Maryland

by Marcia Reinke Former board member Barbara Matzen Coit, LWVMD’s representative to the Stop Slots Coalition, has been regularly reporting on coalition efforts, most recently at the State Workshop held in St. Mark’s Church, Baltimore. Speaking on behalf of the coalition at the workshop, she urged both members and the League State Board to take a position against a special session of the legislature to handle the budget deficit and taxes, expressing major concerns about the greater likelihood that slots would find its way into the fiscal package. At this writing, the State Board has not weighed in on whether to support or oppose a special session. Barbara has previously reported on coalition meetings, including one addressed by new Comptroller Peter Franchot who has spoken clearly against the adoption of slots and why the racetracks do not need them. She also has reported that coalition chairman Aaron Meisner has been working to raise money and to find new coalition participants. If slots legislation passes, then some folks will have them in their neighborhoods, she said. Barbara has suggested that Republicans “may not want to support the adoption of slots now that Ehrlich is no longer governor. Even if slots are described as a pain-free way to raise revenues for the government, legislators who believe in family values could find it difficult to support them,” she said. LWVMD opposes the use of slots or other types of gambling to support government expenses.