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Oct 3, 2008 5:56 pm US/Eastern
Group To Begin TV Ads Supporting Slots Referendum
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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New television ads hit the airwaves Friday in an attempt to convince undecided voters to say "yes" to slot machines.
There are just four weeks until Marylanders go to the polls to decide whether to legalize slot machine gambling.
Suzanne Collins reports the debate on both sides is heating up as that vote gets closer.
New television ads hit the airwaves Friday in an attempt to convince undecided voters to say "yes" to slot machines.
One ad states slots pay millions to schools and colleges every year.
If it passes, 15,000 slot machines will be placed in five locations around the state with half the proceeds going to fund education.
State teachers, police, firefighters and the Maryland Chamber of Commerce are lending their name to the new ads.
"The General Assembly raised over a billion in taxes last November. The economy is failing around us. Why in the world would you want to raise more taxes? We'll lose more jobs," said Kathy Snyder, Chamber of Commerce.
As the pro-slots side, led by a group called For Maryland...For Our Future, starts to air TV ads, the anti-slots group held a news conference Friday to say they've gotten the support of a large group of Prince George's County ministers.
"We're going to make sure our voices are heard on Nov. 4 through our hundreds of members to say absolutely "no" to question two on the presidential ballot," said Rev. Jonathan Weaver.
The group says there will be gambling addictions, and the state should take a higher road to solvency.
The primary slots opponent, state comptroller Peter Franchot, claims the new ads by proponents aren't factual.
"It also takes nerve to put these half truths and distortions on the public airwaves in terms of misleading radio and television advertising," said Franchot.
The governor, who wants slots, hasn't been out front campaigning for them, but he told
Eyewitness News this week he'd much rather see Marylanders play slots here in Maryland than in neighboring states.
"I hope the voters support this. I don't believe slots is the total answer to restoring fiscal responsibility to our state or funding education, but you know what, it is part of the answer," said O'Malley.
The head of the For Maryland...For Our Future won't say how much was spent on the new TV ads.
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