SLOTS

StopSlotsMaryland The coalition is not standing still. As you are aware, the next election is the Primary on 12 January. The coalition is preparing to take advantage of that election to help educate the voters. We hope to engage and grow some support from individuals who do not want slots in Maryland. Citizens who vote in the primaries are also extremely likely to vote in the General Election. The referendum is not on the primary ballot, but the election gives us an excellent educational and strategic advantage. The plan is to have signs at the most strategic primary venues. We also plan to have an individual ready to talk with the voters at the busiest voting times (e.g., 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and then again at 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.). The designated individuals are encouraged to talk with primary voters, ask them to sign up on our petition against the Referendum, and possibly get their name and address if they are interested in our efforts against the Referendum. We need to have many people to help so we can cover as many polling places as possible, but with limited resources we can not afford to have signs everywhere. We believe that many of the churches will continue to support the coalition’s efforts to defeat the referendum. When the polls close, the signs – Stop SlotsMaryland – must be picked up immediately so they can be used again in the general election. We are urging local Leagues to follow the concept described above so that they too may acquire some signs and deploy some members to the polling places. SB 83: Commission on Gambling Addiction. Proposed by Klausmeier and Colburn, the bill would permit a study of the effects on persons who have become addicted to gambling. It would also attempt to measure the cost of the gambling addiction, so that the legislature could propose some solutions. Sad to say, this repeat proposal remains behind the curve. Better late then never, however. Hrg FIN 1/23. Barbara Coit