The State's Transportation Trust Fund has been raided this year by $100 million. Martin O'Malley transferred 60 million to cover ongoing expenses and squirreled away $40 million in the Rainy Day Fund. The depleted fund is supposed to go to transportation projects and maintenance of our bridge and highways. The money in the Trust Fund is gathered from a 23.5 cent per gallon tax. Lawmakers are looking to increase the tax to replenish the fund. In the past 3 years over $2 Billion dollars have been transferred out of this fund. If the Transportation Fund is just being used for everything else, than raising the gas tax will not replenish the Fund. It is is just sleight of hand raising of our taxes. Especially since Maryland's aging and ill maintained transit, roads, dams, bridges, and storm water systems earned a C- according to the 2011 Report Card for Maryland's Infrastructure prepared by the Maryland Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Didn't O'Malley attack Ehrlich on coining the term "fees" instead of taxes during the election? Isn't this the same thing?
Source from Gazette.net
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
O'Malley, the patron Saint of Penn Gaming
Rosecroft has a new owner, Martin O'Malley's newest corporate welfare recipient, Penn Gaming. Penn Gaming has won the right to purchase the Rosecroft racetrack after a spirited bidding war.
This auction is barely after Penn Gaming and Magna attempted to kill racing at Pimlico and Laurel. Why continue the charade that Penn Gaming and Magna are interested in saving Horse Racing? The Governor is pushing for free, no-strings-attached subsidies specifically for Penn Gaming. If Governor Martin O'Malley was serious about Maryland or Horse Racing, why doesn't he have the recipients of this money sign over ownership of the Preakness? They can have a signed agreement the owner of Pimlico can run, manage, and keep all proceeds. At one point Martin O'Malley was talking of Eminent Domain, now Martin O'Malley just takes Penn Gaming's word the Preakness will not leave Maryland!
Here is, per Peter Carlino (Penn Gaming executive), Penn Gaming's official stance on Horse Racing from Penn National Gaming's 2010 Analyst call transcripts.
"We will ratchet down costs in Texas, we will ratchet down costs in Maryland and do whatever it takes. I mean, we need to be tough about that and we will be very tough and brutal about that. Because we have to. We're not running a public charity. We've made those statements publicly and we're going to right size those businesses over the next year or so, because we must. All that having been said, I still think that we can make the case that slots at racetracks make a tremendous amount of sense. And it isn't because it's going to boost the handle. I'm long since past trying to defend the idea that they believe in Maryland for example, that you approve the purses that somehow, miraculously, the quality of racing is going to improve and wonderful horses. The truth is they run the same old stuff, which is 2x or 3x as much. It has little impact on handle, because there aren't sufficient numbers of racing customers in the world anymore because they've died. And nothing's going to change that demographic. Now that having been said, I mean look, there's a place for racing, there's just too many racing dates. But you could argue, clearly, that slots are a very green activity at these tracks."
read more from the Analyst transcript...
So Peter Carlino/Penn Gaming believes Horse Racing is not a public charity yet persuades Martin O'Malley that Horse Racing is a public charity that deserves public subsidies free of any stipulations. The Maryland Jockey Club has failed to provide audited financial statements, as required under law, since 2007. (Industry insiders believe Maryland Jockey Club made millions in profits in 2007, 2008, and 2009 when you deduct payments to the prinipals and/or partners of MJC). An audit by the Legislative Audit Office in 2008 confirms the failure of MJC to provide audited statements, as does testimony by MJC before the Racing Commission in December 2010. Why has the Governor, his regulators, and the legislature allowed this to happen? Perhaps an outside Agency needs to examine.
This auction is barely after Penn Gaming and Magna attempted to kill racing at Pimlico and Laurel. Why continue the charade that Penn Gaming and Magna are interested in saving Horse Racing? The Governor is pushing for free, no-strings-attached subsidies specifically for Penn Gaming. If Governor Martin O'Malley was serious about Maryland or Horse Racing, why doesn't he have the recipients of this money sign over ownership of the Preakness? They can have a signed agreement the owner of Pimlico can run, manage, and keep all proceeds. At one point Martin O'Malley was talking of Eminent Domain, now Martin O'Malley just takes Penn Gaming's word the Preakness will not leave Maryland!
Here is, per Peter Carlino (Penn Gaming executive), Penn Gaming's official stance on Horse Racing from Penn National Gaming's 2010 Analyst call transcripts.
"We will ratchet down costs in Texas, we will ratchet down costs in Maryland and do whatever it takes. I mean, we need to be tough about that and we will be very tough and brutal about that. Because we have to. We're not running a public charity. We've made those statements publicly and we're going to right size those businesses over the next year or so, because we must. All that having been said, I still think that we can make the case that slots at racetracks make a tremendous amount of sense. And it isn't because it's going to boost the handle. I'm long since past trying to defend the idea that they believe in Maryland for example, that you approve the purses that somehow, miraculously, the quality of racing is going to improve and wonderful horses. The truth is they run the same old stuff, which is 2x or 3x as much. It has little impact on handle, because there aren't sufficient numbers of racing customers in the world anymore because they've died. And nothing's going to change that demographic. Now that having been said, I mean look, there's a place for racing, there's just too many racing dates. But you could argue, clearly, that slots are a very green activity at these tracks."
read more from the Analyst transcript...
So Peter Carlino/Penn Gaming believes Horse Racing is not a public charity yet persuades Martin O'Malley that Horse Racing is a public charity that deserves public subsidies free of any stipulations. The Maryland Jockey Club has failed to provide audited financial statements, as required under law, since 2007. (Industry insiders believe Maryland Jockey Club made millions in profits in 2007, 2008, and 2009 when you deduct payments to the prinipals and/or partners of MJC). An audit by the Legislative Audit Office in 2008 confirms the failure of MJC to provide audited statements, as does testimony by MJC before the Racing Commission in December 2010. Why has the Governor, his regulators, and the legislature allowed this to happen? Perhaps an outside Agency needs to examine.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Horse racing friend (not)
O'Malley gave a sweetheart loan as well as diverted slots proceeds from the racetracks to the race track owners in an "emergency" deal. Penn Gaming ( you cannot talk about O'Malley without Penn Gaming coming up sooner than later) has been crying poor in their annual hold the tracks hostage or "give me the money or the horses get it" speech. In response Martin has given Penn (not the tracks) millions of sweetheart loans. Martin also is diverting proceeds from the slots program that is supposed to go to track improvements. The proceeds instead go straight to the owner of the track without any catch to invest back into track, employees, or the horse racing industry. Read more about this....
Where has this "poor" owner of the tracks been spending their money?
$40 million reported in this last election cycle so far. That is money just for politics. Does not include anything remotely operational for horse racing or slots. Read more details on Penn Gamings political spending...
The Governor has benefited greatly from this infusion of money. Either directly or indirectly. Below is a detail garnered from the Maryland Board of Elections on campaign spending. There were so many pages, I only listed the organizations that has close ties to O'Malley. The data are donations from the last few years:
Source...
Penn National Gaming, Inc $4000 O'Malley, Martin Friends Of
Penn National Gaming, Inc $4000 O'Malley Brown Committee Slate
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $1000 Miller, Mike Marylanders For
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $10710 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $10235 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $4338 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $12895 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $2100 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $65000 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $13000 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $15000 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $3161.62 No Slots At The Mall
enn National Gaming $1000000 For Maryland For Our Future
Penn National Gaming $1000000 For Maryland For Our Future
Penn National Gaming PAC $4000 O'Malley, Martin Friends Of
Penn National Gaming PAC $4000 O'Malley Brown Committee Slate
Penn National Gaming, Inc $4000 O'Malley, Martin Friends Of
Penn National Gaming, Inc $4000 O'Malley Brown Committee Slate
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $13000 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $12895 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $65000 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $4338 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $10235 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $2100 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $15000 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $3161.62 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $10710 No Slots At The Mall
MARYLAND JOCKEY CLUB OF BALTIMORE CITY, INC. $1000 Dixon, Sheila Friends For
MARYLAND JOCKEY CLUB OF BALTIMORE CITY, INC. $1000 Dixon, Sheila Friends For
Maryland Jockey Club $4000 O'Malley, Martin Friends Of
aryland Jockey Club (Admin) $25000 Democratic State Central Committee Of Maryland
Maryland Jockey Club (Admin) $50000 Democratic State Central Committee Of Maryland
Maryland Jockey Club (Admin) $50000 Democratic State Central Committee Of Maryland
Maryland Jockey Club Baltimore City, Inc. $500 Marriott, Salima Siler Campaign Committee
Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City, Inc. $4000 O'Malley, Martin Friends Of
Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City, Inc. $4000 O'Malley Brown Committee Slate
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $258000 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $1675000 No Slots At The Mall
he Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $350000 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $500000 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $131478.25 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $96323 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $10725 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $275000 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $500000 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $350000 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $1675000 No Slots At The
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $2250000 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $500000 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $800000 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City, Inc $31095.64 For Maryland For Our Future
Whew... Makes your head spin. Imagine how many hours one of those poor track workers had to put in to even make one of those donations. Good thing O'Malley and Penn Gaming are looking out for them.
Where has this "poor" owner of the tracks been spending their money?
$40 million reported in this last election cycle so far. That is money just for politics. Does not include anything remotely operational for horse racing or slots. Read more details on Penn Gamings political spending...
The Governor has benefited greatly from this infusion of money. Either directly or indirectly. Below is a detail garnered from the Maryland Board of Elections on campaign spending. There were so many pages, I only listed the organizations that has close ties to O'Malley. The data are donations from the last few years:
Source...
Penn National Gaming, Inc $4000 O'Malley, Martin Friends Of
Penn National Gaming, Inc $4000 O'Malley Brown Committee Slate
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $1000 Miller, Mike Marylanders For
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $10710 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $10235 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $4338 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $12895 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $2100 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $65000 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $13000 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $15000 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $3161.62 No Slots At The Mall
enn National Gaming $1000000 For Maryland For Our Future
Penn National Gaming $1000000 For Maryland For Our Future
Penn National Gaming PAC $4000 O'Malley, Martin Friends Of
Penn National Gaming PAC $4000 O'Malley Brown Committee Slate
Penn National Gaming, Inc $4000 O'Malley, Martin Friends Of
Penn National Gaming, Inc $4000 O'Malley Brown Committee Slate
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $13000 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $12895 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $65000 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $4338 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $10235 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $2100 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $15000 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $3161.62 No Slots At The Mall
Penn National Gaming, Inc. $10710 No Slots At The Mall
MARYLAND JOCKEY CLUB OF BALTIMORE CITY, INC. $1000 Dixon, Sheila Friends For
MARYLAND JOCKEY CLUB OF BALTIMORE CITY, INC. $1000 Dixon, Sheila Friends For
Maryland Jockey Club $4000 O'Malley, Martin Friends Of
aryland Jockey Club (Admin) $25000 Democratic State Central Committee Of Maryland
Maryland Jockey Club (Admin) $50000 Democratic State Central Committee Of Maryland
Maryland Jockey Club (Admin) $50000 Democratic State Central Committee Of Maryland
Maryland Jockey Club Baltimore City, Inc. $500 Marriott, Salima Siler Campaign Committee
Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City, Inc. $4000 O'Malley, Martin Friends Of
Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City, Inc. $4000 O'Malley Brown Committee Slate
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $258000 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $1675000 No Slots At The Mall
he Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $350000 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $500000 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $131478.25 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $96323 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $10725 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $275000 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $500000 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $350000 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $1675000 No Slots At The
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $2250000 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $500000 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City (See remarks) $800000 No Slots At The Mall
The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City, Inc $31095.64 For Maryland For Our Future
Whew... Makes your head spin. Imagine how many hours one of those poor track workers had to put in to even make one of those donations. Good thing O'Malley and Penn Gaming are looking out for them.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Another busy aide leaves O'Malley
Colm O’Comartun has been appointed by Governor O'Malley as the head of the Democratic Governors Association (DGA).
Is Governor O'Malley positioning himself for a National campaign?
Is Governor O'Malley positioning himself for a National campaign?
O'Malley's busy aides
It is a lucrative businees being a friend or aide to O'Malley.
Case in point- Sean Malone.
Sean started off being a bartender at Mick O'Sheas. An Irish bar where O'malley's March was a regular act.
O'Malley brought Sean in as an aide and confidant, Question 2 (Slots in Maryland passed), and Mr Malone left the administration to become a lobbyist for among other clients- Penn Gaming. Sean was quoted as saying he could not raise a family on the 6 figure salary he was making as an aide.
Sean was also instrumental in bill HB 1590 an anti Union bill.
Case in point- Sean Malone.
Sean started off being a bartender at Mick O'Sheas. An Irish bar where O'malley's March was a regular act.
O'Malley brought Sean in as an aide and confidant, Question 2 (Slots in Maryland passed), and Mr Malone left the administration to become a lobbyist for among other clients- Penn Gaming. Sean was quoted as saying he could not raise a family on the 6 figure salary he was making as an aide.
Sean was also instrumental in bill HB 1590 an anti Union bill.
O'Malley's jackpot
O'Malley has said numerous times that he doesn't like slots. Perhaps it is just gaming companies that don't contribute heavily into his campaign. The only casinos that have opened are ones that have contributed.
Magna contributed $3 million to Gov. Martin O'Malley's drive to win approval of the slots referendum, which was conducted by the Governor's former communications director, Steve Kearney, who now has his own public relations and lobbying firm, and was chaired by Fred Puddester, the state's former budget director and now O'Malley's appointed head of the Maryland Stadium Authority.
read more...
Magna contributed $3 million to Gov. Martin O'Malley's drive to win approval of the slots referendum, which was conducted by the Governor's former communications director, Steve Kearney, who now has his own public relations and lobbying firm, and was chaired by Fred Puddester, the state's former budget director and now O'Malley's appointed head of the Maryland Stadium Authority.
read more...
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