ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ/AP)?Maryland lawmakers are gathering for the first day of a special session with a primary focus on expanding gambling in the state.
Pat Warren has the latest.
The Senate gets first crack at a bill that includes a sixth casino in Prince George?s County and a tax break for casino operators. There are already lawmakers who oppose the bill. Some of them are Democrats. And there are protesters from Prince George?s County?most of them also Democrats.
One the first day of the special session for expanded gambling, a protest was launched by anti-gambling forces from Prince George?s County.
?We want good paying jobs with benefits in Prince George?s County. And we do not see casinos as the way to do that,? one protester said.
But Gov. Martin O?Malley says his bill is in the best interest of the state.
?We have the ability to create jobs by getting this gaming regime right, so I think there is no more important progress we can make especially in these times than creating jobs. This would allow us to create jobs. It would also make gaming in our state competitive so we don?t find ourselves losing dollars to Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware,? Gov. O?Malley said.
Republicans, however, were critical of the plan.
Sen. Nancy Jacobs, who represents parts of Cecil and Harford counties, noted that a casino in Perryville in her district recently announced it wants to return 400 to 500 slot machines due to declining business caused by the opening of the state?s largest casino in Anne Arundel County.
?This whole session is a farce,? Jacobs said. ?I mean, it?s the pits. It?s about pit bulls, pit bosses, and my citizens say it?s pitiful.?
The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee is scheduled to meet in the afternoon and will likely vote on the measure that would allow table games and a new casino site. The new casino in Prince George?s would be open to competitive bidding and could not open until 2016.
Voters would have to approve the gambling expansion in November.
The bill is expected to pass the Senate, although there will be some strong debate.
The House of Delegates is scheduled to convene on Friday. It is the House that can make or break this deal.
The gambling measure would lower the state?s 67 percent tax rate on gambling proceeds by varying degrees for the five casinos currently allowed in the state and for the new casino.
The bill would also allow casinos to keep 6 percent more revenue if they buy or lease slot machines. Currently, the state must own the machines, a provision in the law that has cost the state tens of millions of dollars.
A casino in Anne Arundel County and a planned casino in Baltimore would get an additional 5 percent of the proceeds, which would have to be spent on marketing and capital improvements. Political contributions from gambling entities would be banned. Casinos could be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
WJZ will stay in Annapolis and have much more on this story coming up at 4, 5 and 6 p.m.
Source: http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2012/08/09/md-lawmakers-begin-special-session-on-expanded-gambling/
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