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Franchot Breaks From Democrats in Gambling Ad

State comptroller speak out in opposition to expanded gambling while many in his party back Question 7.

State Comptroller Peter Franchot is breaking from most in his party and appearing in a radio ad opposing expanded gambling in Maryland.

Franchot, a long-time opponent of gambling, has frequently criticized the use of gambling to balance the state budget or pay for programs such as education.

"I can very clearly tell the people of Maryland there is no new education money coming from this casino," Franchot said in the commercial posted on Youtube and running on local radio stations.

Franchot's position runs contrary to many of his fellow Democrats in the state including Gov. Martin O'Malley, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker, Former Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith and Baltimore County Councilman John Olszewski Sr.

All have appeared in commercials favoring the passage of Question 7, which would expand gambling in the state including adding table games and a sixth casino—most likely at National Harbor.

Proponents say the new casino, in addition to adding thousands of jobs, will add millions to education spending in the state—a claim opponents say is misleading.

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Buzz Beeler November 4, 2012 at 12:14 pm
Steve's comment: "What a load of crap". I will not except that as of prof of your three degrees from Purdue University, the ones I asked for days ago however they will meet the criteria for involvement at the Purdue Chicken Farms.
Angela S November 4, 2012 at 12:27 pm
No, I don't think Penn National is fighting Question 7 as a service to Maryland. Yes they are doing it in their own self interest. That doesn't however mean that Question 7 is good. I plan on voting against 7 because I think it is a bad for Maryland. I have nothing against table games and some of the other provisions in it. But, I do feel we shouldn't allow a 6th casino to open until we know the area can support the original five. The bill does nothing to guarantee the money will go toward education. I whole heartedly agree with Mudcat, it should have been split in two or more separate pieces. Adding table games would have helped prevent some of the losses to neighboring states. But we could have done this without adding a sixth casino, extending the hours of operation of the casinos, decreasing the percentage the state takes in and giving tax breaks to casino owners.
Bart November 4, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Another piece of right-wing propoganda. They took quotes and applied them to other topics that had nothing to do with the point the producer was trying to prove. It is shameful.
Adam R November 4, 2012 at 12:51 pm
This gambling process was bastardized when MD Live was allowed to open at AA Mills. At this point I could care less about any other businessmen's concerns. Let em open Casino's everywhere and let the free market decide which ones stay open. Voting for Question 7, its the only move to make! Its too late to go backwards and say no.
Tim November 4, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Seriously, it's more like "Glad we have one Politician that can tell the truth".
Romney lies left and right. Or flip-flops like an etch-a-sketch, your choice.
Tim November 4, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Exactly OT: Like ALL that money from the lottery that went to education. I mean, that IS what they promised...
Tim November 4, 2012 at 01:01 pm
at butthurt.co, that's hilarious. Someone is so mad.
Tim November 4, 2012 at 01:02 pm
GREAT article Theresa.
Patrick November 4, 2012 at 01:02 pm
I remember when Atlantic City casinos promised jobs and tax money for the city and state. Most of it was lies as history proves ;the jobs went to outsiders who moved to new condo clusters outside the city and today the city's decay has only accelerated.
Buck Harmon November 4, 2012 at 02:12 pm
Casino's are rigged so that the greed driven owners win...it's the nature of the beast.
Casino's have and will continue to destroy the lives of human beings and their families. How can something that is rigged to create losers while destroying lives be good at any level. I view this as serious weakness in the governments ability to manage fiscal responsibility at many levels....the gamble of weather or not the perceived funds will be allocated as promised is not worth the damage caused in the process. In short, a cop out by those that support it because of the inability of perceived leaders to do a better job.A sad State of affairs...gambling also seems to promote the use of drugs and excessive alcohol...you would have to be a dumb ass to vote yes for such a tragedy.
Christopher Kidwell November 4, 2012 at 03:19 pm
Buck, wake up. Casino's have not destroyed one life. Some people who have gambling problems have destroyed their own lives and those of their families.
Time to put the blame where it belongs, on those people
Christopher Kidwell November 4, 2012 at 03:20 pm
Since those people now live in the city or near it? Yep, they are local people and therefore the tax dollars did stay in Atlantic City or the state and the jobs stayed there as well.
Christopher Kidwell November 4, 2012 at 03:21 pm
No, it isn't too late to go backwards and say no.
Joe November 4, 2012 at 03:32 pm
Kidwell, do you say the same thing about firearms that you do about casinos?
"Firearms have not destroyed one life. Some people who have mental problems have destroyed their own lives and those of their families."
My Opinion November 4, 2012 at 04:28 pm
The "truth" is what you want it to be and the "truth" is I am voting FOR Question 7 since our republican under indictment County Executive John Leopold shoved the Maryland Live Casino down our throats and the people who live near that mall are the ones suffering from it's location there....hopefully Question 7 will pass and the "Maryland Live Cordish Casino at the Arundel Mills Mall" will go belly up! After all the poor people who patronize it only have so much money and the rich ones who shoved it down our throats do not gamble with "their" money.....and so it goes.....
TJ November 4, 2012 at 04:34 pm
My Opinion, Your not to smart. Leopold had nothing to do with where it was built, O'Malley and friends did. O'Malley is the one who hated casinos and now can't build them fast enough.
Edie McGee November 4, 2012 at 08:38 pm
"You're" not "too" smart, either.
Ralphie November 5, 2012 at 05:03 am
How is it the "free market" when you have to lobby the General Assembly to pass a bill that puts the question as to whether you can open a casino to referendum?
Nice!
Greg G. November 5, 2012 at 05:12 am
Anything Ken Ulman is for, I'm against. The man has destroyed Hoco.
djp952 November 5, 2012 at 05:38 am
What's done is done, Maryland Live! will never go away, those of us that live near it got screwed and that's that. There is no scenario where Cordish doesn't win, that battle is over with, we lost, he won. You can still try to save National Harbor and keep Cordish from being able to make money 24/7 if you vote against it. Our only recourse is to move away, we can't change that, but we can still try to save our neighbors. I felt the way you did for a long time out of ire, but I will still vote against 7 Tuesday. This one is not about a single town or county, this one is about the entire state. The brakes need to be put on this, it's moving too fast for no good reason and involving school children and an imaginary opponent called "West Virginia" just to try and pass it. Annapolis needs to know we're not this stupid. Baltimore and PG and Cordish will get their table games and 24/7 operations, it's just a matter of time, but it shouldn't be done this way with the concessions it makes. Let people gamble, you can't stop them. It's their money to spend ... but not like this, disguised as a good thing for everyone. Please change your mind before Tuesday and vote the way you would have wanted others to have voted for us. It's your vote, don't waste it out of spite because you got it up the ass. I got it up the ass too, and I'm still going to try and save Maryland from itself even though it won't fix anything in my life.
waytogo November 5, 2012 at 07:00 am
They knew years ago about national casinos while building there I notice the outlets on floor every few feet. Allready for slots.Someone is going to get a hell of kickback $$$.rite gov.but i just might vote yes just to keep DC. @ VA. thugs at national.away from aaco.
eagleflyfree November 5, 2012 at 03:08 pm
agreed, I vote against anything O'Malley supports.
BadStatistics November 5, 2012 at 04:00 pm
I am not sure how people believe this does not help education. Yes there is a state formula for spending on education - but when state funds get low the state must take from other sources (including "other education" sources - there is not just ONE education funding source - numerous programs fund 'education' in one sense or another) in order to pay the mandated formula amount. Basically this allows funds to pay for ALL state education programs, not just the mandated formulaic programs mentioned in the articles.
Think of all the education funding for things like, programs at museums, summer programs for children, agricultural education, environmental education programs, historical conservation and preservation education programs. All of these are used to education our children on the environment and the history of maryland, and provide excellent resources for students. However, if the Dept. of Ed does not receive enough 'other funds' and has to cannibalize the State Funds from other programs, then these types of programs will not exist.
BadStatistics November 5, 2012 at 04:01 pm
numerous typos occurred to send that out quick. my apologies for that.
HarfordLassie November 5, 2012 at 06:43 pm
The comptroller may be running for Governor against David Craig. This is just more politics.
Whether or not the money goes to education it's money we lose every day that goes out of state. You can vote against it on principle and for the next two years until it comes up for a vote again we lose a ton of revenue that will have to be made up with taxes and fees.
Karl Schuub November 6, 2012 at 03:47 pm
It's all about the money...when they've blown through the casino money by george let's have hookers working for the state; perfect. We can skim at least 10% off the top and when they've blown through the gambling money and the hooker money what then? Maybe the state can produce porno movies...awesome.
Dean Smith November 6, 2012 at 04:42 pm
Hey Djp952!! It will be hard for Maryland Live to go away but I disagree that it can never happen. Casinos have been in Maryland before (I think it was in the 50s and 60s but it was before my time) and later on, they went away. Like the two of you state, I hate that Maryland Live is near Arundel Mills Mall (which is just down the street from my house). Also, in this real estate market, it isn’t easy to sell one’s house (especially by a Casino) and get enough money from it to obtain the percentage needed to move someone else. Also, I can’t understand how the state can agree with Cordish and allow Question 7 to have casino being able to operate 24/7 near a mall which is within a residential neighborhood.
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