One word: SLOTS
The state of Maryland's political situation is similar to California's. Although Maryland is traditionally Democratic, it recently elected a Republican Governor, Bob Erlich, over a Democratic incumbent Lieutenant Governor, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, who ran a terrible campaign. The state was and still is facing a serious budget crisis. The Governor adamantly refuses to raise taxes, and so he has to come up with other ways of meeting the shortfall.
He has cut the University of Maryland's budget severely, leading to fee hikes and service cuts for students, and pay cuts for faculty and staff. Although they don't call them "pay cuts." They call them "furloughs." More on that some other time.
So what is the Governor's brilliant scheme for improving the budgetary situation? SLOT MACHINES. Yes, his big plan is to legalize slot machines and take in a hefty profit for the state (industry analysts say $500 million, and the administration estimates more).
His plan lost out in the legislature last year, but he's pushing it hard again this term. There's plenty of controversy not only about the plan itself, but also about where to put the slot machines. Race tracks will likely get most, if not all, of them, and there is also a proposal to open two slot machine palaces along I-95.
The way I see it, it is worse than simply a cockamamie scheme for improving the budget situation. It is a way of taxing the people who tend to play slots (i.e. the lower and middle class), without calling it a tax.
First, one might claim that, unlike taxes, one is perfectly free not to play slots. But that ignores the problem of gambling addiction. House Speaker Michael Busch, who is against the proposal, alluded to this:
"We're not advocating for slots," he said. "It's the only revenue source that comes with an addiction. The governor can take full credit for that."
Second, no matter what one's view of the culpability of slot players, the consequences remain the same: revenue flow out of the pockets of low and middle income people and into state coffers to make up for the budget shortfall.
Truly a brilliant Republican scheme. I wonder if Ahnuld will follow suit.
But we should look at the bright side. At least Bill Bennett won't have to travel so far anymore to indulge his addiction.
12:09:31 AM 
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