Miller joins O'Malley in urging county council action on slots zoning
Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, a huge proponent of legalizing slot machines in Maryland, joined Gov. Martin O’Malley in chiding Anne Arundel County officials for their inaction on rezoning land where a slots parlor is proposed. Miller characterized the debate on the Anne Arundel County Council as a “petty zoning war.”
“This business that’s happening in Anne Arundel County is criminal,” said Miller, known for his blunt language. “We need to remove any obstacles and roadblocks in terms of implementing slots and get that program off the ground immediately.”
The comments from O’Malley and Miller are an indication that political pressure is being brought to bear on the county council, which has tabled further discussion of the issue until the fall. O’Malley told members of the horse-racing and breeding industry Thursday that he found the situation “frustrating” and urged the council to make a decision.
But technically, ground can’t be broken on any slots facility until the state’s slots commission awards licenses, and that’s not expected to happen until this fall. The commission is reviewing bids, including one from the Cordish Cos, a Baltimore-based developer that wants to build a massive casino next to Arundel Mills mall.
Miller, in an interview, also brought up another question surrounding the slots program: What about Rocky Gap State Park?
The location was among the five authorized by a voter-approved constitutional amendment allowing slots, but a proposal to open a casino there was tossed out for failure to submit licensing fees. A competing bid in Anne Arundel County from the Laurel Park horse track also was disqualified for lack of fees.
Officials could open another round of bidding to put slots at Rocky Gap in Allegany County, and Miller suggested O’Malley might call on the slots commission to make recommendations on that site. Shaun Adamec, an O’Malley spokesman, said the governor would like to move forward with putting slots there and that the next step is still being decided.
Comments
If Miller wants slots at the Mall he should be prepared to fix our traffic and crime problems in Hanover. Learn more at www.stopslotsatamm.com
Posted by: Stop Slots | August 7, 2009 3:35 PM
The Democrats delaying passage of slots for political purposes during the Ehrlich era was criminal too Mister Miller.
Why no mention of that Laura?
Posted by: jay | August 7, 2009 4:34 PM
Carole King sang it the best.
It's too late baby.
Posted by: Carole | August 8, 2009 8:36 AM
There is probably more pressure on the Democrats even though they are opposed. I am surprise that O'Malley used such blunt language before the 2010 elections. Not sure if defending slots in front of the horse racing industry lobbyists was such a smart move....if Republicans were smart, they would do the same thing to O'Malley that Democrats did to Ehrlich...but overall...the county council does come out looking pretty bad and indecisive about this..
Posted by: Stop Slots Laurel | August 8, 2009 8:47 PM
Ha, O'Malley finds this situation frustrating?
Miller finds it criminal?
How in the heck does he think the people feel when they wanted slots 8 years ago?
We the people of Maryland could see what was happening back then. Our money was going to surrounding states. Not that we don't like our neighbors, we just saw the problem and wanted to fix it.
This entire fiasco will burn in my brain until the day I die and I'll go to my grave with the wisdom and faith to know the ordinary people will always stay one step ahead of their government, and that's a good thing.
We have to.
It is our only way to persevere.
P.S.
thanks laura for keeping us informed.
One day I said to myself: Self, I wonder what is going on with the Maryland slot situation.
Ask and you shall receive.
Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Carole | August 9, 2009 8:37 AM
Great response Carole.
What takes so long to go over
NON COMPETITIVE BIDS on only 4 locations?
A class of 7th graders could have pulled this off more competently than this GA we have in Annapolis!
Posted by: Fed Up | August 10, 2009 1:04 PM
It is the responsibility of AA County Council to represent the best interests of the County and its citizens. MD approved slots but assured local input. The values of homes and communities are always discounted when pols want to "exploit business"opportunities. But healthy communities support the state and county. They are the reason the area has value and they need protection and consideration from "stupidity" garnered from greed, lust and quick fix scheming. I think every casino needs a resident state auditor, 7 days a week, during operating hours, to count the money baby, to protect taxpayer interests in these lucrative ventures. NO opportunties for under reporting of income . These are taxpayer supported businesses and are subject to full disclosure.
Posted by: CarmanK | August 14, 2009 1:01 PM