PHOTO ALBUM: MGM Reveals Designs for National Harbor Casino in Prince George's County

After the grand spectacle of a special legislative session and referendum fight to approve gambling expansion in Maryland, MGM has now released renderings of what the National Harbor casino will look like:

PRESS RELEASE   MGM National Harbor Reveals Design Vision for
Proposed Prince George’s County Destination Resort

Resort architecture draws inspiration from local culture and history;
Creates iconic gateway to Maryland at National Harbor
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD, September 25, 2013 – MGM National Harbor, a subsidiary of MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM), today revealed architect’s renderings and detailed video animation of the company’s vision for the destination resort it plans to build in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

SCANNED DOC: Gambling Expansion Opponents Alert Dream Act Supporters to National Harbor Opposition to Question 4

UPDATE:  COMPTROLLER PETER FRANCHOT HIGHLIGHTS PRO-QUESTION 7 OPPOSITION TO MARRIAGE EQUALITY - Comptroller Peter Franchot's last Facebook update highlighted late-breaking evidence that supporters of gambling expansion (Question 7) are financing opposition to marriage equality (Question 6). Not surprisingly, Franchot sees this as another reason to "vote against" Question 7. He has been crusading against Question 7 for months. See below:

Unbelievable. Folks, this is who our state's Democratic machine has chosen to join forces with this year. Hoping that all Marylanders who truly support progressive Democratic values will take a stand tomorrow against discrimination -- and deliver a powerful statement against machine politics -- by voting AGAINST Question 7.

Maryland Juice was just at a Montgomery County rally for Dream Act supporters, where numerous Democratic politicians joined Dreamers and Question 4 advocates in Silver Spring. But interestingly enough, I was handed a flyer made by opponents of gambling expansion (Question 7), alerting Dream Act supporters that National Harbor was financing opposition to Question 4. See the flyer below, which quotes Maryland Juice and a Baltimore Sun article about the new revelations:
Question 7 vs. Question 4 Flyer

Below you can also see a few photos from the rally:

National Harbor Developers Paid $271,515 to Defeat Marriage Equality & Dream Act / PAYBACK: VOTE AGAINST QUESTION 7

TIT FOR TAT: GAMBLING SUPPORTERS ARE URGING 
VOTES AGAINST MARRIAGE EQUALITY & DREAM ACT

TIME TO DECLARE WAR ON GAMBLING INDUSTRY IN MARYLAND: Maryland Juice is declaring war on gambling expansion and urging all readers to "vote against" Question 7 on Tuesday, November 6. After it is defeated at the ballot box, let's also make sure the expansion bill dies in all future legislative sessions. 

I had already been planning on releasing a short voter guide about the ballot questions, and I will still do so tomorrow. But right now I am completely incensed by the latest callous shenanigans from those who are "for" Question 7. As far as they are concerned, nothing is more important than rolling out more casinos in Maryland -- nothing at all. Look at the latest voter guide that pro-gambling expansion forces are mailing out, including the insensitive/nativist-style image of a family running:

PETERSON DEVELOPMENT COMPANY FINANCES OPPOSITION TO MARRIAGE EQUALITY & DREAM ACT: The developers of National Harbor, Peterson Development Company, are trying to bring a casino to Prince George's County, and yesterday they spent $271,515 to create a new group to promote gambling expansion (Question 7), and defeat marriage equality (Question 6) and the Dream Act: (Question 4). They registered a new front-group called "Republican Leaders Referendum Guide" -- one of seven groups registered to campaign on Question 7 (gambling expansion):

Peterson Development Company dropped $271,515 into this voter education effort, according to last-minute financial disclosures to the Board of Elections:

Milt Peterson - National Harbor Developer

SURPRISE: NEW PRO-GAMBLING GOP VOTER GUIDE EMERGES - Just minutes ago on Twitter, I stumbled across a new "Republican Voter Guide" that features former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele and former MD GOP Party Chair Audrey Scott endorsing a "vote for" gambling expansion and a "vote against" marriage equality and the Dream Act:

Red Maryland blogger Brian Griffiths confirmed that the piece carries an authority line from the new Peterson-backed GOP group:

Note that we previously published a letter to voters from Steele and Scott (yes, the two of them again) telling voters to "vote for" gambling expansion. But that letter was paid for by a group called "FOR Maryland Jobs and Schools."

PRO-QUESTION 7 FINANCIERS DON'T CARE ABOUT MARYLAND: The ballot question contests in Maryland may come down to razor-thin margins, and any spending by outside groups against Questions 4 and 6 is a threat.

After purchasing an unprecedented special legislative session in Maryland, supporters of gambling expansion are now willing to throw the Dream Act & marriage equality under the bus as collateral damage. This is yet another piece of evidence that those financing the casino expansion push aren't motivated by the concerns of ordinary Marylanders. Just look at the backers of question 7, and you'll see lots of people who are well-known for caring about Maryland. Take magician David Copperfield, for example; or boxer Oscar De La Hoya; and if that's not convincing enough, how about the Washington Redskins, who are owned by the Romney-backing man of the people, Dan Snyder.

Indeed, for pro-Question 7 financiers, working with Democrats is purely a transactional experience and just "part of the job." But apparently Democrats in Maryland did not put any conditions on their support for casino expansion, and so the industry feels it can freely spend money against referenda that some have been working very hard to advance. Ish don't think so.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM TIME: FIREWALL MARYLAND FROM SPECIAL INTERESTS: After the November elections, it is clearly time for campaign finance reform in Maryland. The special interest spending we are currently witnessing is an embarrassment in a one-party state, but especially where the one-party is the Democratic Party. Not to mention, we should not forget that we have a serious problem when a pair of companies can purchase an unprecedented special session in Maryland, and use it to advance an issue that was the priority of only a small number of very powerful politicians. It's time for a #CleanSlate.

Reject Special Interest Ownership of Maryland Politics:

VOTE AGAINST QUESTION 7

BREAKING: Maryland Democratic Leaders Reach Tentative Gambling Deal // August 8th Proposed for Special Session?

UPDATE: An anonymous legislator has indicated to Maryland Juice that they have been asked to clear the week of August 9-14. Additionally, news outlets are reporting that House Speaker Mike Busch is expecting Gov. O'Malley to call for a special session (see ie: Washington Examiner & Baltimore Sun).

GAMBLING SESSION FORTHCOMING: Maryland Juice is confirming that the State's Democratic leadership appears to have a struck a deal for a special gambling session. Governor Martin O'Malley, House Speaker Mike Busch and Senate President Mike Miller will likely imminently announce that around August 8th they will call Senators and Delegates back to Annapolis to try and place a gambling referendum on the ballot this November. I am receiving cautionary notes that the fragile deal could fall apart, so take these details with a grain of salt. But so far, it looks like things are moving forward. Sources indicate several issues are expected to be addressed in the new gambling push:

FLYER: Building Union Tells Legislators MD Can't Wait for PG Casino at National Harbor // O'Malley Punts Special Session

In late June, Maryland Juice posted video and radio ads from the Building Trades Union calling for a Prince George's County casino. The group is now back with a new flyer calling for the National Harbor casino to proceed quickly (see below). A source indicates that the argument below was emailed to Maryland's legislators yesterday, seemingly in response to a recent announcement from Governor O'Malley that there would be no special gambling session in the immediate future. But The Washington Post's John Wagner last night reported that there might still be a special session later in the summer (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) has decided against calling a special legislative session on expanded gambling for next week but is expected to announce Friday that he will continue to seek consensus on a plan that could be enacted this summer, according to a person close to the deliberations....

We previously reported that members of the House of Delegates had tanked efforts to expand gaming in Maryland. A source indicated that a plan to issue tax cuts for casino owners become a sticking point. But the labor group, called "Building Trades for National Harbor" is arguing that Maryland can't wait until January to discuss a gambling expansion. See their flyer below:

Building Trades Union Flyer Promoting Prince George's, MD Casino

WATCH ONLINE: Labor Union Runs Television & Radio Ads Supporting Casino at Prince George's County's National Harbor

Today several news outlets reported that some labor unions are running ads to support a proposed casino at the National Harbor site in Prince George's County, Maryland (see eg: Washington Post & Baltimore Sun coverage). The group, called Building Trades for National Harbor, is running a television spot in the Baltimore market and a radio ad in the Baltimore and Annapolis markets. Maryland Juice has obtained copies of both ads, which you can watch & listen to below:


Television Ad for Prince George's Casino




Radio Ad for Prince George's Casino

SOURCE: Tax Cut Plan for Maryland Casinos Caused Breakdown in Gambling Expansion Negotiations // A 2-Year Reprieve?

BREAKING: No Special Gambling Session // Workgroup Fails to Reach Deal on PG Casino, Table Games

A moment ago, The Real Prince George's blog reported that Maryland's special "gambling workgroup" failed to reach a deal to resolve several key issues (excerpt below):

REAL PG BLOG: ...After weeks of public and behind closed doors meetings, the commission has indeed failed to reach consensus on what plan could pass both houses....

A knowledgeable Maryland Juice source has verified this news and provides additional detail:

ANONYMOUS SOURCE: "Members of the workgroup from the House of Delegates weren't willing to decrease the taxes on casino owners...."

Ultimately, this raises the likelihood that further discussion on gaming expansion will be deferred for two years, as the issues (if agreed upon) will ultimately be put before voters in a referendum.

BACKGROUND: If you're just now tuning in to the gambling debate, here are a few details about what's going on. When the legislature ended its session this April, the Assembly punted a decision on how and whether to expand gambling in Maryland. They came back for a special session to deal with budget issues, but left undecided whether or not to hold a third special session to discuss expanding gambling.

Governor O'Malley subsequently created a special workgroup to debate gaming expansion in Maryland, and he indicated that he would not push for a third legislative session this year, unless the workgroup members were able to reach a deal. Some of the key points they were debating were:

1. Whether to allow Las Vegas-style table games at our five planned slot machine barns
2. Whether to add a sixth casino at Prince George's County's National Harbor site
3. Whether to give casino operators a larger share of slot machine revenue/cut their taxes

Notably, Maryland Juice reported last week that a Virginia anti-tax group sent direct mail attacking the idea of tax cuts for casinos. The piece was mailed across the state, and several legislators have reported receiving numerous calls and emails on the topic. A few politicos have theorized that rival casino operators may have financed the mail-piece, but we have no way of knowing that yet. But if that turns out to be true: well-played.