Maryland Slots debate heats up, baby.

So what do you do when your employer (candidate) drops out of a race he probably could have won? You start consulting on various causes since you have to make a living. Scott Arceneaux, the former Doug Duncan campaign manager and darling of James Carville who came North to take on Martin O'Malley is senior advisor to the anti-slots group, Marylanders United to Stop Slots. A number of other former Duncan aides are also working for the group.

In two emails I've received from MUSS (I suppose because I was on Duncan's email list) there has been a grassroots theme to resists slots and some spurious arguments that gambling increases crime rates. While casino gambling does seem to increase crime in nearby areas, a few slot machines at race tracks (uh, don't they have gambling there already) are not going to turn Laurel into a sleazy, crime infested den of gambling addicts.

The simple answer to the Maryland slots debate is the Democratic administration wants dollars so let them have slots and the revenue. They are going to get their revenue to expand government one way or another, either from slots or from additional tax increases. I think we've had enough tax hikes so let in the "one armed bandits"!

Bay Oyster population demise continues despite millions spent

A new article on the Washington Post chronicles the "missteps" of the restoration programs of State and Federal agencies. It reads like a classic story of government blunders. Creating unattainable goals, not listening to citizen experts (in this case watermen), and a lack of collaboration/cooperation with other government agencies that have had success (Corps of Engineers).

With tax dollars being spent at an ever increasing rate on Bay restoration and cleanup and more and more legislation being passed during every General Assembly session some results should be forthcoming. Patience is wearing thin with the lack of progress with the Bay cleanup. More drastic measures may have to be implemented or at least discussed. It's difficult to imagine positive results with some many competing goals such as maintaining fisheries, accommodating more population growth, allowing further development in critical areas, lack of enforcement of existing environmental regulations and reduction of promised cleanup funds to name a few.

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak on the Bay cleanup issue. Is there a politician out there with the courage, will and foresight to present the hard choices required to restore the Bay after centuries of abuse and neglect?