The fact that the MoCo teachers union, which has an opinion on EVERYTHING, doesn't have an opinion on Question 7 is enough to make me think there is probably not going to be any benefit to schools as far as funding.

Anonymous wrote:Voting a big no!

1. Gambling increases crime and poverty which costs more money to address. MD will lose money not gain money.
2. This money goes primarily to the casinos and then into the MD budget, there will be no change to the deficit situation in the schools.
3. The obnoxious robo calls on this one have been far too numerous. Angry at the misleading nature of the calls. Even more angry that these calls for "education" have woken up my kids on school nights several times.

1. Urban legend. Crime has gone down in Charles Town since the casino opened.

2. of course most of the money goes to the casinos. they are the ones running the show. but a portion of the money goes to the state. look at how much money west virginia and pa have received.

3. the primary opposition to the gambling initiative has come from Penn National which runs the casinos in WV and PA. They are the ones funding all of the calls and mailings and advertisements on tv. They don't oppose gambling. They like gambling except when its in Maryland.

Voting a big no!

1. Gambling increases crime and poverty which costs more money to address. MD will lose money not gain money.
2. This money goes primarily to the casinos and then into the MD budget, there will be no change to the deficit situation in the schools.
3. The obnoxious robo calls on this one have been far too numerous. Angry at the misleading nature of the calls. Even more angry that these calls for "education" have woken up my kids on school nights several times.

Anonymous wrote:Voting a big fat No on question 7


http://www.gazette.net/article/20121101/OPINION/711019883/1014/no-to-gambling&template=gazette

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bs-ed-gambling-letter-20121031,0,7160787.story

+1000

Voting a big fat No on question 7


http://www.gazette.net/article/20121101/OPINION/711019883/1014/no-to-gambling&template=gazette

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bs-ed-gambling-letter-20121031,0,7160787.story

The legislature lowered their share of the take from casinos to buy off the existing ones, so it's not really clear the state will end up with more money overall (and it's obvious that the "money for schools" angle is just window dressing).

I would vote for Q 7 if you think casinos are a good thing, or casino-driven economic development is the way to go, but I am voting against it.

Anonymous wrote:DH and I were just discussing this..ok so the state raided the education fund..will not having casinos stop that? No they will just be raiding a smaller fund. What did they raid it for? TO feed the hungry? To improve roads? Just because $$ was transferred from education doesn't mean it was wasted. Most of the anti advertising is coming from WV casinos

+100

Whether the money raised goes to education or not, it will stay in the state of Maryland. I, personally, know many people who go over to WV occasionally to the casinos; their money could be kept in our state if Question 7 is passed. And you are absolutely right, PP, the out of state casinos are the ones paying for the anti-question 7 ads!

Anonymous wrote:I fail to see how its a bad thing. People are already gambling except the money is going to other states. We already have gambling but its lame slots instead of table games. No brainer for me, definitely voting yes. Seems like most of the ads are paid for by out of state casinos.

+1

I fail to see how its a bad thing. People are already gambling except the money is going to other states. We already have gambling but its lame slots instead of table games. No brainer for me, definitely voting yes. Seems like most of the ads are paid for by out of state casinos.

it should, but if it should not it will be something to stop everywhich tax from goingup every 6 months in Maryland and Montgomery County!

I am voting big YES!

I oppose gambling because it is a regressive tax. Who gambles? Poor people who cannot afford to lose the $. Is that how we want to pay for public ed in our state?

That said, WaPo editorialized yes on 7.

I am voting no myself.

DH and I were just discussing this..ok so the state raided the education fund..will not having casinos stop that? No they will just be raiding a smaller fund. What did they raid it for? TO feed the hungry? To improve roads? Just because $$ was transferred from education doesn't mean it was wasted. Most of the anti advertising is coming from WV casinos

Anonymous wrote:Question 7 paraphrased -- Do you favor gambling expansion to raise funds for schools. (find link to ballot Q at bottom)
I am genuinely opposed to gambling, and I can't find any positive endorsements.
Balto Sun says: " We get 25 percent, casinos get 75 percent. "
OP here again, that is <$145M, across the whole state; MCPS budget alone is $2.1B
Anyone know where teachers stand?

Source: http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/2012/ballot_question_language.html

in the most simplistic terms - http://votenoon7.com/why-vote-no/
Specifically, the promise of increased education funding should not be accepted by voters. The state has raided the Education Trust Fund of hundreds of millions of dollars to offset the state budget commitments, resulting in no net new funding for education.

- a slanted version, no doubt - But it hits the nail on the head.



I hate the PC - but this is good info - http://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2012/10/mccpta-clarification-on-question-7-we.html

Monday, October 29, 2012
MCCPTA Clarification on Question 7: We have taken NO position.
MCCPTA (Montgomery County Council of PTAs) would like to get out the word that it has taken a NO/NO position in Question 7. Please go here for more information. From the website:


They state the same thing:
From a PTA advocacy point-of-view, we need to make sure that if this passes, the funds for education are guaranteed to be additional funding and not substitute for current sources of funding.

Question 7 paraphrased -- Do you favor gambling expansion to raise funds for schools. (find link to ballot Q at bottom)
I am genuinely opposed to gambling, and I can't find any positive endorsements.
Balto Sun says: " We get 25 percent, casinos get 75 percent. "
OP here again, that is <$145M, across the whole state; MCPS budget alone is $2.1B
Anyone know where teachers stand?

Source: http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/2012/ballot_question_language.html