No, no and no!

by David Grand
June 9, 2005

Whenever I see that credit card company's TV commercial, where the only response that those applying over the phone for a different card hear is a repeated "no," it reminds me of House Speaker Michael Busch's negative attitude about having slots in Maryland, as was shown in his recent meeting with officials of the Magna Entertainment Corp., who own Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course.

For about the only thing that came out of the meeting was to put the kibosh to any lingering hopes on their part that he might be more open-minded, given that he surely recognizes the struggle for survival Maryland's racing industry is faced with, surrounded as it is by gambling-rich states, and with owners/trainers stampeding to greener pastures.

But he was, true to form, as immovable as the Rock of Gibraltar. And to add insult to injury, he told Magna's reps that they should look for alternative solutions for making racing in Maryland competitive with other states, without offering any suggestions as to how they could accomplish that minor miracle. That's like putting a straw in a drowning man's mouth and wishing him luck as you sail away.

Now, if I was in Magna's shoes I'd have told him, that unless a special session of the General Assembly is convened post haste to deal with the slots issue, Maryland can kiss the Preakness good-by. For we'll be moving it to a state that have-or soon will-slots at their tracks, and who'd jump with joy at having the second jewel in the triple crown on their home turf. And you can take that to the bank!

I seriously doubt, however, that would cause Busch to flinch or reconsider his position. But it could trigger a palace revolt in the next session for his lack of common horse sense, if House Democrats were worried more about being labeled by their GOP opponents in the 2006 election as obstructionists to the passage of a slots bill than they are of the political price they'd pay for bucking him.

That failing, the only other way for preventing such a catastrophe from befalling Maryland would be if Magna was willing to put on-hold making a final decision on moving the Preakness until they see the outcome of the governor's race.

But if Ehrlich is reelected, they might as well follow through on their thinly veiled threat to move the Preakness. For there's no way under the sun that the 2007 session of the General Assembly would be any different from before, with Ehrlich and Senate President Mike Miller still engaging in a no-holds-barred contest with Busch over slots, and with no compromise possible. (Their egos wouldn't allow it.)

If, on the other hand, Mayor O'Malley is elected, the pendulum would most likely swing the other way, ending the stalemate. I say that because (1) O'Malley has spoken out publicly in favor of having slots at the tracks; and (2) because Miller and Busch would be so elated to have him at the helm instead of Ehrlich (who they've always regarded as a GOP interloper into their domain), that they'd set aside their past differences and work with O'Malley in developing a slots plan they can agree on.

Now, one thing you can count on if O'Malley takes over the reins in Annapolis, is that it'll be a lot livelier there on Inauguration Day, with as many shamrocks being worn as on Saint Patrick's Day (except by Republican legislators of Irish heritage), and the more exuberant celebrants dancing an Irish jig in the streets. And no doubt with his former band on-hand to play "When Irish eyes are smiling."

Boy, would they be. And so, too, the eyes of all racing fans, and those who are piqued beyond words at the hundreds of millions being siphoned out of Maryland each year by neighboring states, without even so much as a thank you note from their governors. What ingrates!