It’s Official

From the AP by way of the Frederick News Post:

Governor Martin O’Malley will introduce a proposal to legal slots in Maryland, saying the state needs to protect open space, agriculture and jobs.
The governor said Maryland’s 250-year-old horse-racing industry needs to be competitive with surrounding states — such as Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia — that already have slots.

He said his proposal for state-owned slots would also invest in public education, school construction, higher education and community colleges.

It is interesting to note that “closing a honking $1.5+ billion budget deficit” is not one of the reasons. This gives the impression that slots revenue will be devoted to new spending while tax increases will close the deficit.