Rosecroft is out, Busch says
The Senate last week rejected an attempt to substitute Rosecroft Raceway for the Ocean Downs site in O'Malley's slots bill, and House Speaker Michael E. Busch says the House isn't going to revive it.
"No. Absolutely not," Busch said. "There's been no interest from Prince George's (County) in having a facility there. With National Harbor where it is, I don't think it would be fair to the economic development plan they have there."
A House subcommittee tonight will begin debating amendments to the proposed slots referendum bill.
Busch was more amenable to the idea of a site in Frederick County. The House bill that passed in 2005 had a Frederick site (much to the consternation of many local officials there), and Busch said he thinks it makes sense, given the number of people who drive from Montgomery County to the Charles Town slots parlor/racetrack in West Virginia.
"I've always thought that if the purpose of this was to cut dollars from going out of state, Charles Town has more slot machines than any racino in the country, very profitable," he said.
Changes to the Cecil County site in O'Malley's bill are also possible, Busch said. The House bill specified a site in Harford County.
The question of how close a vote on the referendum would be is hotly debated in Annapolis. Word from Republicans is that perhaps eight or 10 of them have strayed from their party's position against the slots referendum, and others may follow them. Keeping Rosecroft out of the bill appears to have convinced several Prince George's Democrats (a generally anti-slots consituency) to vote for a referendum. But some pro-slots factions (a number of delegates from Baltimore County, for example) would vote for slots in a heartbeat but don't like the idea of a referendum.
Busch didn't give a direct answer today about whether the votes there. He said it will take time to build a consensus on slots, just like it did on the tax bills earlier this week.
"The revenue [bills] wouldn't have passed a day-and-a-half before we had a vote," Busch said.
"No. Absolutely not," Busch said. "There's been no interest from Prince George's (County) in having a facility there. With National Harbor where it is, I don't think it would be fair to the economic development plan they have there."
A House subcommittee tonight will begin debating amendments to the proposed slots referendum bill.
Busch was more amenable to the idea of a site in Frederick County. The House bill that passed in 2005 had a Frederick site (much to the consternation of many local officials there), and Busch said he thinks it makes sense, given the number of people who drive from Montgomery County to the Charles Town slots parlor/racetrack in West Virginia.
"I've always thought that if the purpose of this was to cut dollars from going out of state, Charles Town has more slot machines than any racino in the country, very profitable," he said.
Changes to the Cecil County site in O'Malley's bill are also possible, Busch said. The House bill specified a site in Harford County.
The question of how close a vote on the referendum would be is hotly debated in Annapolis. Word from Republicans is that perhaps eight or 10 of them have strayed from their party's position against the slots referendum, and others may follow them. Keeping Rosecroft out of the bill appears to have convinced several Prince George's Democrats (a generally anti-slots consituency) to vote for a referendum. But some pro-slots factions (a number of delegates from Baltimore County, for example) would vote for slots in a heartbeat but don't like the idea of a referendum.
Busch didn't give a direct answer today about whether the votes there. He said it will take time to build a consensus on slots, just like it did on the tax bills earlier this week.
"The revenue [bills] wouldn't have passed a day-and-a-half before we had a vote," Busch said.
Comments
Frederick County doesn't want slots either. The legislature knows this well. So what's the difference between Frederick not wanting slots and PG not wanting slots? Why are slots being forced down Frederick's throat unwantingly. At least there is a racetrack in PG. Slots belong at the racetracks where they will do the most good and boost attendance, not out in a Frederick field where they are not wanted and will mostly benefit a developer. Slots at the racetracks is a model that has worked successfully in Delaware and West Virginia.
Posted by: steven09 | November 14, 2007 6:15 PM