By Joe Slaninka

Special to The Sentinel

In the midst of talks of bailouts, furloughs, tax increases and budget cuts to help mend the current budget crisis, Maryland is considering slot machines in order to help bridge the approximate $1 billion budget gap the state is facing.

If passed on Nov. 4, the referendum will allow up to 15,000 slot machines in five different locations throughout the state.

Supporters of the referendum say allowing slots will create more jobs and keep Marylanders' money, which would otherwise go to surrounding states like Delaware and West Virginia who already have slots, in Maryland. Opponents are afraid of the social consequences that slots bring, such as crime, corruption and gambling addiction.

The issue has trickled down to county governments and the Montgomery County Councilmembers have more than enough to say about it ...

Valerie Ervin

(District 5)

Though The Montgomery County Sentinel tried repeatedly to get a hold of council member Ervin, by press time she still had not returned our telephone calls.

Council President Mike Knapp (District 2) - Neutral

Rather than taking a side on the issue, Knapp wants to make sure that voters know what they are voting for come Nov. 4. He wants voters to be aware of what comes along with slots. "By voting for slots, it won't completely solve the budget problems the state has. It will make a bigger hole become a smaller hole." Knapp says the $1 billion budget gap will shrink to approximately $600 million. "It will help, but we still have to find a way to fix the problem."

Council Vice President Phil Andrews (District 3) - Against

Andrews says the cost of slots is understated. "When you factor in the social costs that come with gambling such as crime, broken homes and gambling addiction, slots are not a big plus." Andrews also says people's discretionary funds, which would otherwise go into local businesses already struggling to stay afloat, would be diverted to slots gambling. "Marylanders should vote against the diversion of funds to local businesses to gambling interests."

Roger Berliner (District 1) - Against

"My bottom line is that we should not adopt a public policy that preys on the weakness of those who can least afford it as a way to raise revenues." Berliner says the state should be thinking of more responsible ways of alleviating the government's budget tribulations. "I do not believe we would be seriously considering this proposal were it not for our fears - fears regarding the economy, fears about the limited options we face in dealing with the $1 billion plus state deficit looming over us. In my view, we must face those fears, and have the courage to support other choices, hard choices for sure, that will put us on a path towards fiscal responsibility rather than taking the easier path and become addicted ourselves, to tainted and uncertain dollars that will not materialize for years to come."

Marc Elrich (At Large) - Against

Elrich says we should be concentrating on different ways to raise revenue such as progressive income tax, corporate taxes, liquor tax and tax on services. He is also concerned about where the revenue will go. "The state's share [of the revenue] won't even close the widening budget gap, let alone provide badly needed new revenues for schools that are being promised. The only people likely to see that money will be the slot operators and race tracks."

Nancy Floreen (At Large) - Undecided

Floreen is concerned about revenue that Montgomery County should get. "The real question is will the general assembly give Montgomery County the money it needs." She says she wants to know if the county residents will get back the money they put into Annapolis.

George Leventhal (At Large) - Against

"Slot machines will defraud the citizens of Maryland. If the referendum passes, we will see increases in crime, corruption, bankruptcy, domestic violence and child neglect." Leventhal says the revenue will not show up for three years if the referendum passes. "It is false to promise that slots would replace budget cuts and taxes." He says we will still have to do something in order to help with the looming $250 million shortfall the county faces next July.

Donald Praisner (District 4) - Undecided

"The state and county are in bad financial status right now." Praisner says if money is already going to be put into the gambling industry, he would like to see it stay in Maryland. "I would hate to see money go to other surrounding states such as Delaware and West Virginia." On the other hand he is concerned about where the projected revenue from slots will go. He says he is skeptical about whether or not the promised money will go to education.

Duchy Trachtenberg (At Large) - Against

Trachtenberg says she is a life-long fighter for minorities, the underprivileged and people who struggle with gambling addiction. She says that using slots to help with the alarming budget crisis sends the wrong message and has the potential to harm the most vulnerable. "When I go to the voting booth, I am a citizen first and an elected official second. So there's no question how citizen Duchy feels about the slot referendum - I'm against it."