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Slots foes sue to alter language on ballot

Elections board urged to add revenue details

By Gary Emerling (Contact) | Friday, August 29, 2008

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Opponents of Maryland's slot-machine referendum in November filed a lawsuit Thursday against its wording, while another prominent foe addressed the State Board of Elections, also pressing to include more details about how slots revenue will be used.

The lawsuit was filed in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court on Thursday by lawyer Irwin Kramer, whose clients say the measure obscures how the proceeds would be spent.

Mr. Kramer, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of plaintiffs including anti-slots groups Stop Slots Maryland and No Casino Maryland, said the referendum language submitted by Secretary of State John P. McDonough is an attempt to "manipulate the voters."

Only about half the revenue would go toward the stated purpose of increased education spending, while the rest would go to racetracks, horse breeders and slots license owners, he said.

Mr. McDonough is a former lobbyist for Rosecroft Raceway, a Prince George's County horse track.

The referendum he wrote states that slots revenue would be "for the purpose of raising revenue for education of children in public schools, pre-kindergarten through grade 12, public school construction and improvements, and construction of capital projects at community colleges and higher education institutions."

"Voters are not being told at the ballot box that they're voting on much more than meets the eye on the ballot," Mr. Kramer said. "We need to be truthful in what we tell voters so that their vote truly reflects the popular will."

The lawsuit asks Anne Arundel County Circuit Court to prohibit state elections officials from certifying the ballot language and to direct the secretary of state to revise the ballot question "with neutral language that fairly and accurately apprises voters of the true nature of the issue."

Mr. Kramer also sought to invalidate last year's special session, which resulted in $1.4 billion in tax increases and the slots referendum. Maryland's highest court threw out the Republican-supported lawsuit in March.

Fred Puddester, chairman of the nonprofit group Maryland For Our Future, which favors the referendum, criticized the lawsuit as "frivolous and rehashed."