The odds are better for racetrack slots, but hurdles remain

Ehrlich faces opposition from lawmakers seeking referendum in 2004

No slots. No casinos. No exceptions.

No more.

Gov. Parris N. Glendening's unwavering opposition to the expansion of gambling in Maryland was cast aside last week with the election of Republican Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.

But legalizing slot machines in time to help Maryland's $1.7 billion budget shortfall is no sure thing. While many in the General Assembly's Democratic leadership stand with Ehrlich, the new Republican governor-elect will have far from universal support even from members of his party.

Ehrlich wants slots to be approved in 2003 as a regular law, but most legislators say the only way they would support slots is to send the question to referendum, letting voters make the final decision on expanding gambling and delaying any action until after the 2004 election.

"I basically believe the best approach is to let the public decide," said Del. Howard P. Rawlings, the influential Baltimore Democrat who has introduced slots bills the past two years and intends to do so again in 2003. "I think a lot of my colleagues are more comfortable with that approach."

Such a delay would leave Ehrlich with a huge hole in his vision of how to fix Maryland's budget woes - laying the groundwork for a struggle in the 2003 Assembly session.

"Some legislators will find slots a necessary evil and other legislators will find it necessary, but a budget must be introduced in January that is balanced, and a budget must be passed in April that is in balance," said Ehrlich spokesman Paul E. Schurick.

"There are two ways to do it: reducing expenditures and increasing revenues, with slots obviously being in the latter category. The alternative to increasing revenues through slot machines would be massive increases in taxes."

For supporters and opponents of slot machine gambling, Ehrlich's victory last week injected a spark into an issue that had been stalemated by Glendening's adamant opposition.

Like Glendening, Democrat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend opposed legalizing slots and had vowed that she would block any legislation.

But Ehrlich has long supported slots to help Maryland's struggling horse racing industry. Early in the campaign, he promised to use revenue from slot machine gambling to help the tracks and boost spending on public schools.

His plan calls for slots at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Laurel Park in Anne Arundel County, Rosecroft in Prince George's County and a track planned near Cumberland in Allegany County.