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John Bailey was not receptive to County Executive Jim Smith’s plea to legalize slots.

Bailey was the only person who was not an elected official, a county employee or a reporter attending Smith’s Oct. 27 news conference called to back slots.

Bailey was also the lone dissenter. He held a hand-colored sign that read, “Slots bring government corruption. Bet on it.”

“I believe if, that’s a big if, significant revenue is generated by slots that that will make government dependent on that source,” Bailey said after the news conference. “The next time government needs money, who’s it going to listen to, the people or the gaming corporations that say ‘we want you to (expand) slots into casinos?”



Smith, flanked by elected Democrats from around the county, stood in front of the Old Courthouse in Towson and made his case for slots one more time.

State officials estimate that, if slots are approved, about $1.3 billion could be generated in taxes. About half, $660 million, would go directly to education.

Smith said slots are needed to help offset a state deficit approaching $1 billion and pay for education as well as to help the state ride out the bad economic times.

“By many economists’ assessments, we are in a recession and that has had a tremendous impact on the revenues that had been expected by state government as well as county governments all across this state,” said Smith, who is also the president of the Maryland Association of Counties, a group that also supports the referendum.

Kevin Kamenetz, chairman of the County Council, said a “yes” vote on slots would also help protect against development by helping keep horse farms in operation.

“Significantly, for us in Baltimore County, we recognize that horse farms preserve thousands of acres of open space in our state, again at no taxpayer expense,” Kamenetz said.

When Smith opened up the news conference to questions, Bailey, who was called upon by Smith, was also the only person to get in a question.
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Talk about the indirect costs of slots,” said Bailey, adding that he believed slots would cost taxpayers more in so-called social costs such as increased social service and police expenses.

“There are many studies that do not support the premise that you gave there,” Smith said.

“Delaware has half the percentage of problem gamblers that is typical in the United States,” said Smith, citing what he said was a 2002 Delaware study.

A county spokesman then cut off questions and the county employees and elected officials drifted away one by one.

Bailey, an Edgemere resident, was left in the courtyard doing interviews while a lone worker packed up the county and U.S. flags and broke down the podium.

Bryan P. Sears is political editor for Patuxent Publishing Co.’s Baltimore County newspapers.

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user comments (2)

user stevetowson says...

Why doesn't anyone in State government feel that getting spending under control in a State with one of the highest tax rates in the Country would be a good idea? Mr. Bailey is right on the mark. We were sold the Maryland Lottery with the same lines of bull... that it was for education... that it was for the children... but where is that money with respect to education today? This is another government lie, another government scam, in a State run by liars, and scammers. NO... TO SLOTS! Stop feeding the hogs in Annapolis.

Posted 8:15 AM, 10.28.08

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user funinmd says...

Wonder if the good journalist here would mind letting readers know where County Executive Jim Smith stood on this issue about 4 years ago when Gov. Erhlich was trying to get a simple up or down vote on the floor? And who where the other officials that "flanked" Mr. Smith - and where did they stand? Agree Steve - cut the spending in Annapolis. It's amazing how, when the economy is good, government grows, but when it's bad - it grows even faster. Paradox!

Posted 9:52 AM, 10.28.08

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