Taylor Would Have Helped Ehrlich Get Slot Machines

Fate is what it is, and in this case, it kept Governor Ehrlich from legalizing slot machines and thus keeping his job. Had Del. LeRoy Myers, Jr. not defeated House Speaker Casper Taylor, Jr. in the election in 2002 – Taylor would have helped Ehrlich legalize the slot machines. Instead, Myers got the job, and slot machines were not legalized.

Taylor wanted slot machines legalized badly, as did the governor, and they would have worked together to get that accomplished. Taylor would have been able to get the slot machine legislation through the House, but since Taylor was not in office, it died in the House instead. He actually probably would have helped him get slot machines legalize the very first year that Ehrlich was Governor, and then he could have spent his years doing something else instead.

However, Ehrlich spent almost his whole time in office trying to get slot machines legalized, and ultimately did not get it accomplished. Many in Annapolis feel that when Taylor was replaced by Myers, the slot machines were doomed. Then when Michael Busch became the new speaker, he became slot machines’ worst enemy. He spent his time blocking slot machine bills from the governor, all except one. The one slot machine bill he allowed would have been a smaller version of the governor’s plan – but the governor chose not to compromise and thus slot machines were not legalized.

The new governor is still riding the fence on the slot machines, even though the Democrats said they would probably pass a slots bill – and Busch remains opposed. The way it looks now, slot machines are not likely to get legalized this year, but they might have a go at it before O’Malley’s time is up.

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