Governor Ehrlich on Pennsylvania Slots Agreement

ANNAPOLIS – Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., last week issued the following statement regarding Pennsylvania lawmakers’ agreement in principle to raise $1 billion in new revenue through slot machines:

“I’d like to congratulate Governor Ed Rendell and Pennsylvania lawmakers for reaching a sensible, bipartisan agreement on a slots program. Their success highlights the refusal of the Maryland House of Delegates to act on my plan to dedicate $800 million in slots revenue per year toward K-12 public education.

“For too long, Marylanders have paid for teachers and textbooks in West Virginia, New Jersey and Delaware at the expense of Maryland’s school children. Now Pennsylvanians will benefit as thousands of Marylanders cross state lines to spend their discretionary dollars.

“While the House remains idle, Marylanders spend $309 million annually in Delaware and West Virginia in support of their slots programs.

“The question is not whether Marylanders will play slots. The question is where they will play and who will benefit. I look forward to the day when I no longer have to visit my constituents and their money in surrounding states