Slots disarray continues
The quest to bring slots to Maryland is becoming more of a mess.
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller today suggested that the commission awarding slots licenses toss out all bids received this week and start again.
While Miller is one of the most powerful figures in Annapolis, it's unclear whether his suggestion will be followed. The slots commission contains appointees of Miller and House Speaker Michael E. Busch, but a majority of members were selected by Gov. Martin O'Malley.
Busch, responding to Miller's remarks, said the process needs to work itself out, and tossing bids would send a wrong message to private businesses, according the The Baltimore Sun's Gadi Dechter and Laura Smitherman.
Miller is a supporter of slots at tracks, and an ally of Magna Entertainment Corp., whose bid for a slots license at Laurel Park did not initially include a required $28.5 million deposit and may be ruled non-responsive. The state received six bids for five slots licenses this week, but the Laurel and Rocky Gap bids do not meet requirements. That means that only about a third of the 15,000 machines authorized in a November referendum could be authorized in this round of bidding.
Comments
What a boondoggle!
Posted by: AnotherWatcher | February 5, 2009 12:48 PM
It's long past time the Attorney General's office got into the slots mess. Now, Sen. Majority Leader Miller wants the slots awarding process (he helped to create) to be started all over again. There are so many question about who is greasing the palms of whom that only a fair investigation can either clear the players or send them packing to prison. Meanwhile, of the six proposals to operate slots, only one makes sense. And the Cordish bold vision for slots at Arundel Mills will probably go down in a tide of political tit-for-tatting.
Posted by: maryland crabby | February 5, 2009 2:24 PM
Are you surprised gentlemen?
Seriously!
Our state leaders should have buried their egos and passed this during Ehrlich's first year in office.
But, no Annapolis just had to play politics with it!
Don't give the Republican the win.
Rather increase taxes then give a Reublican a win!
Miller wanted to bury the Republicans-
well let's hear it for the Maryland Democratic leadership!
The Three Stooges-
Marty. Mike and Michael!
Now we witness the incompetence of our state government in Annapolis!
AGAIN!
Groundhog day in Annapolis as always!
Thanks guys!
Posted by: jay | February 5, 2009 2:54 PM