103 NORTH MAIN STREET  °  BEL AIR, MARYLAND 21014  °   410.838.9340  °  FAX: 410.838.9330

NEWS RELEASE

PROPOSAL TO BUILD NEW RACETRACK

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Eileen M. Rehrmann today blasted Governor Parris Glendening’s proposal to use state tax dollars to help construct a new Maryland racetrack.

"Parris Glendening’s priorities are upside down. First new stadiums, now new racetracks," said Rehrmann. "The last thing we should do is spend taxpayer money building a new racetrack. We need to build more public schools, not racetracks or stadiums."

"When I’m elected," said Rehrmann, "we won’t spend taxpayer money on these boondoggles. We won’t build Glendening Downs. No racetracks, no stadiums, no exceptions."

Rehrmann noted that "We still have 692 public schools which are overcrowded. We have still 42,000 children going to class every day in 1700 portable classrooms, without convenient access to bathrooms and proper ventilation."

Glendening yesterday indicated he could support using taxpayer dollars to help build a new high technology race track in the State to help the racing industry. The cost of a new racetrack is estimated to be $120 million.

"We can build 11 elementary schools with that money," said Rehrmann. "We could have built 27 elementary schools with the money we spent on the Raven's stadium."

"Instead of building a new racetrack, we can take 7,000 children out of portable classrooms with that same money. We should spend this money on school children, not racetracks."

Rehrmann noted that Maryland’s racing industry is in trouble because of Glendening’s recent opposition to allowing Maryland racetracks to compete with Delaware racetracks which offer slot machines. Last year, Maryland residents spent $1.3 billion dollars at Delaware racetracks, nearly one-third of the total $3.6 billion wagered annually at tracks in that state.

Glendening now publicly claims to be opposed to gambling, but during his 12 years as Prince George’s county executive, he issued permits for widespread casino gaming at firehouses, which grossed as much as $25 million annually. After being elected governor, Glendening gave initial indications that he would support slot machines at Maryland tracks, but then abruptly reversed his position in 1996.

"Because of Parris Glendening’s phony flip-flop, Maryland money is now being used to build schools in Wilmington and Dover, instead of Gaithersburg and Frederick. What’s worse, we’re losing $180 million each year in tax revenue which could go to our schools. We’re sending all this money out of the state."

"Parris Glendening has brought racing to its knees with his absurd opposition to gambling at racetracks. We’ve had gambling at Maryland racetracks since 1715. Who’s he kidding?"

"Parris Glendening’s grandstanding may win him a few votes," said Rehrmann, "but the effects on our state have been disastrous. There are thousands of Maryland license tags in those Delaware parking lots. Our tracks can’t compete. We’ll eventually lose the Preakness. Now he wants to make matters worse by using taxpayer money to help build a new racetrack."

"The answer," said Rehrmann, "is not a new racetrack with public money. Racetrack owners should build their own racetracks. Racetrack owners should compete with other racetrack owners under the same rules. It’s not very complicated."

"We can help both education and the racing industry if we simply allow Maryland to compete with our neighboring states. Delaware and West Virginia both have slot machines at racetracks, and Pennsylvania is expected to authorize slot machines at tracks next year.

"If we don’t allow slot machines at the tracks, no amount of taxpayer money can prop up Maryland racing. We should stop making taxpayer grants to racetrack owners and horsemen and simply allow them to compete," said Rehrmann. "This is throwing taxpayer money in the wind. It hasn’t worked and it won’t work." During the last two years, the Glendening Administration has made $18 million in grants to racetrack owners and horsemen to help Maryland racetracks compete with Delaware, but Delaware revenues continue to dramatically increase, while Maryland track revenues continue to slip.

"On the road Parris Glendening is taking us, Maryland residents will continue to spend more than a billion dollars a year in Delaware, building the Delaware economy and supporting Delaware schools. This doesn’t make sense and Parris Glendening knows it doesn’t make sense."

Authority: James E. Haupt III, Treasurer

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