| No slots jackpot in Maryland By Barbara Coward UMCONNECTION CORRESPONDENT  For the second consecutive year, a slots bill has been defeated in the Maryland General Assembly.
Throughout the state, anti-gambling opponents from grassroots organizations and religious groups, including clergy and lay members from United Methodist churches, are rejoicing with the news. Were going to take a well-deserved break, but well soon be strategizing about what actions are needed next year, said Kim Roman, co-leader in the grassroots organization NocasiNo Maryland which has fought to keep slot machines out of the state. Even while taking a rest, slots opponents are keeping an eye on next year, knowing that this issue wont soon go away. Weve been fighting this action for 10 years, said Sandy Ferguson, associate council director for the Baltimore-Washington Conference, and well need to keep fighting for another 10 years. This issue wont go away. We need to be vigilant and keep up the pressure in Annapolis against slots. This year, the conference worked again in partnership with anti-gambling organizations such as NoCasiNo Maryland and StopSlotsMaryland, supporting their efforts by providing information, flyers and stickers, as well as contributing funds for advocacy efforts. United Methodists had a tremendous impact on the outcome of keeping slots out of Maryland, said Ferguson. Ferguson and Roman both stressed the importance of educating and organizing people in local churches to express their views on expanded gambling. At this point, were going to beef up educating people on whats happening, said Ferguson. If people finally see just how horrible things are, and they will, its not going to take long to get more people opposing slots. In the (legislative) off-season, our goal is to empower the local church, Ferguson said. The power in our denomination is the masses, its the people in the pews. The bill would have legalized 15,500 slots machines at three racetracks and at three other sites in Baltimore City, Cecil and Prince Georges counties. The proposal, which was endorsed by Gov. Robert Ehrlich, a United Methodist, died in the House Ways and Means Committee April 12 when it voted 19-2 against the measure. The Senates version of Ehrlichs proposal was defeated in the same House committee 21-0. At the center of the debate was $800 million in projected annual income from slots earmarked to pay for mandated improvements in public education and offset the nearly $1 billion shortfall projected to hit the states budget next year. The budget for the fiscal year that begins July 2004 is balanced. Slots opponents believe that the costs to the taxpayer in managing increased crime, traffic and the economic and social consequences of increased gambling addiction would outweigh any benefits of slot machines. Slots, they added, would also unfairly target poor and racial minority populations who live in the proposed locations and who can least afford the losses. Barbara Nickelbein, a member of Glen Burnie UMC and co-chair of NoCasiNo Maryland, likened slots to a reverse Robin Hood in which the state would take money from people who can least afford it and give it to the rich. It doesnt matter where they put it or what they call it, or the percentage they claim they will give to education, she said. The problem is the product. It is the most addictive form of gambling. For opponents who advocated against the measure, including representatives from The United Methodist Church, the defeat brought a huge sigh of relief. I am one happy person, said the Rev. James Talley of Asbury UMC in Arnold, who testified against gambling at a March 23 House Ways and Means Committee hearing. We must support those who defeated this bill and thank them for allowing Maryland to not go down a slippery slope. Talley said the church must speak out about the issue. We must continue be a champion against gambling just like we are for gender and racial equality. The church needs to be the conscience of the country and claim its rightful place in proclaiming what is right for our culture and what is harmful, Talley said. Its not a matter of morality but of human dignity. As slots opponents get their breath this year, they know that the future is still up for grabs. We will keep the coalition of grassroots efforts going and we will not be finished until this legislation is closed once and for all, said Nickelbein. It will rise again next year. We know it will. There is too much money involved. It is a year-to-year struggle, said the Rev. Don Stewart, director of connectional ministry. We need to keep the pressure on. With the slots plan and the House tax package defeated for now, concern remains in Annapolis on how to make up the shortfall in the states budget for the fiscal year beginning in July 2005. Opponents of slots remain steadfast in their conviction that income from gambling is not the answer. You dont build a state budget on greed, said Stewart, but rather on human need. Erik Alsgaard contributedto this report. | 
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