Gov. Parris N. Glendening pledged yesterday to veto any bill this legislative session to legalize casino and riverboat gambling in Maryland, in effect slamming the door on such efforts until next year.
He urged state legislators to resist the lure of easy money promised by 29 bills that would bring gambling to casinos and riverboats in different parts of the state. The issue needs more study first, the governor said.
"I believe very strongly that we should pause before taking any hasty action that could endanger Maryland's quality of life. While many states have rushed into gambling as a quick fix for budget problems, Maryland's gambling policy must be based on sound policy considerations," he said at a news conference in Annapolis.
His announcement intended to put the brakes on an effort by out-of-state casinos to push a gambling bill through the General Assembly during the current 90-day session.
"The lure of gambling is compounded by the pressure of nine major gambling casinos who have hired some of the best and most expensive lobbyists that Annapolis has to offer," Mr. Glendening said.
The governor said he and legislative leaders believe a committee should study the issue and report back by January. He said he would provide the group with a small budget. "The type of questions that I think ought to be addressed are: What forms of gambling should be allowed in Maryland? Where will any additional gambling be located? What will be the impact of extensive gambling or casinos on crime?" he said.
"What are neighboring states doing and what will that impact be? What will the expansion of gambling and particularly casinos have on Maryland's historic racetrack industry, our restaurants, our hotels and our neighborhoods?"
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. and House Speaker Casper R. Taylor Jr. said they, too, oppose casino legislation this year and support a study committee.
They met Wednesday with the governor on the matter, and Mr. Glendening invited them to join him at yesterday's news conference. Mr. Taylor said he declined because he did not want to appear to be stifling the regular legislative process. Several gambling bills have been introduced in the House and are scheduled for public hearings, the Cumberland Democrat said.
Mr. Miller, a Democrat from Prince George's County, said he personally agreed "we do not need casino gambling at this time. But that's a conclusion the Senate was prepared to make for itself."
Mr. Glendening said he and the presiding officers have not developed details of the committee and its makeup. The legislators say they hope it would contain some of their colleagues and citizens.
Several lobbyists for casinos said they were disappointed that gambling legislation almost certainly will not be enacted this year as a result of the governor's comments, but were pleased about the study.
"We were disappointed," said Ira C. Cooke, lobbyist for Ameristar, which has casinos in Nevada and other locations. "But we were encouraged that he is going to study this issue because we believe an objective study will demonstrate the plus side of casino gaming."
"This is the first step in a process that will lead to gaming in Maryland," said Gerard E. Evans, lobbyist for Harvey's casino in Lake Tahoe, Nev.
Alan M. Rifkin, a lobbyist for the horse racing industry, which sees casinos as potential competitors, said he was happy with the governor's announcement. "We applaud his efforts to slow this train down," he said.
A gambling opponent said he hopes the study commission isn't stacked with gambling supporters. "We're concerned it might be composed of proponents and apologists for casinos, and its purpose might be to grease the skids for high stakes gambling," said Richard J. Dowling, executive director of the Maryland Catholic Conference. He said he hoped the state's religious leaders would be part of the committee.
Mr. Glendening was not the only official yesterday to call for caution when it comes to casino gambling.
Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke also urged more study. "We need time to look at all of these issues, the pros and cons of it. We need time to visit these cities and see what the impact has been of casino gambling," he said. "I think if we act in haste, we act to the detriment of this community and to the state."
City Councilman John Cain, D-1st, has introduced a city bill that would ban riverboat gambling and casinos in Fells Point.