Maryland House Speaker Michael Busch Announces He's Open to Slots Solution to Budget Deficit

On April 11, 2007, House Speaker Michael Busch commented that he is not a big fan of slot machines. Nonetheless, he said that he is willing to consider the passage of a slot machine bill to help cut back the expected budget deficit that the state will experience next year.

One of the reasons that he decided to support the idea was because he wants to see a comprehensive and final solution to the state's budget problem. House Speaker Michael Busch said that a lot of the residents in Maryland expect their legislators to have a comprehensive discussion about tax rates, new sources of revenues, like the planned slot machines and even the spending cuts that the legislators would like to impose.

Michael Busch commented that he is not yet sure whether the slot machines alone at the racing tracks could compete with the standalone slot machine establishments that can be found in Pennsylvania and slot parlors in the state of Delaware in West Virginia.

Gov. Martin O'Malley commented during the campaign period last year that he will only push for slot machines at the racing tracks. Busch commented that he only wants to make sure that the state of Maryland gets its share of slot machine profits.

Sunday, 22 April 2007
Marissa Patterson