Calling Penn National's bluff at Rosecroft

Our view: Gaming company has no real interest in racing at the Prince George's harness track but is making a long-shot bet on slots

12:33 p.m. EDT, July 7, 2011

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...Absent any legal commitment to cover losses, Penn National's interest in racing at Rosecroft would likely last precisely as long as the hope of expanded gambling legislation was alive in next year's General Assembly session. And any such bill would face long odds; given the difficulty of getting the state's original slots legislation through the House of Delegates, it's hard to imagine much appetite for expanding a program that isn't even fully up and running.

Lawmakers might be particularly disinclined to help Penn National since the reason the state's largest casino, at Arundel Mills mall, isn't yet open is that the company bankrolled the petition drive and referendum effort that delayed the groundbreaking there by several months, costing the state, Anne Arundel County and the horseracing industry tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue. They would probably be even less well disposed to the idea if Penn National walks away from its promise to resume live racing just because the racing commission is trying to make sure the company actually sticks to it...

President O'Malley? (We told you so...)

Maryland Community News


We’re doomed. In Sunday’s Washington Post, national pundit Chris Cillizza put Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley’s name on his short list for U.S. president...
O’Malley for president? That will be the term-limited governor’s sole focus between now and the end of his tenure, and we’re his candidacy’s guinea pigs. So get ready for a steady diet of offshore windmills, tuition freezes, “Jobs Across Maryland” tours and feel-good all-things-to-all-people initiatives flowing from Annapolis. Also, “O’Malley’s March” will be playing soon in your neighborhood...
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Maryland needs a full-time Governor

baltimoresun.com

Maryland needs a governor like New Jersey's

7:30 AM EDT, June 29, 2011

I can't get past the fact that Maryland is the richest state in the country, but we are last in job creation. Why is that so?
Let's compare Maryland with nearby New Jersey. For one thing, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie doesn't waver. He knows what the problems are and he addresses them head on regardless of the consequences. His agenda is so good that he has attracted national attention as a possible presidential candidate. Of course, we know that's not going to happen.
And what about our governor? He's not business friendly and not friendly to legal residents either. This is a fact. Businesses and residents are going to continue to flee for the states that offer a better standard of living, better tax rates, and are business friendly.
Why does our governor go on an expensive junket overseas when the problems are here, right under his nose? Let's see what the results of his recent trip to China bring, and hope that we don't lose money on this taxpayer-funded adventure. Not "sister city" results, but real economic benefits.
I, for one, don't think it will happen and that Gov. Martin O'Malley doesn't have a clue. It's time to get real, Governor O'Malley. Let's see you follow the lead of a governor who has intestinal fortitude, who is in touch with reality, and is effectively doing something about the problems that most of the states are dealing with.
Richard LaCourse, Forest Hill

Let's not be too hard on Governor O'Malley's actions.
While it is true that Maryland's revenues have faltered significantly under the Governor's leadership, he has done a great job for West Virginia!