For Maryland - For Our Future

For Maryland For Our Future is a grassroots coalition of teachers, students, business owners, moms, dads and Marylanders from all walks of life dedicated to stronger schools and preventing future tax increases.

All of us support the Maryland slots referendum because it will:

• Secure the millions we need for our schools and colleges
• Recapture the millions we currently lose by thousands of Marylanders playing slots out of state in Delaware, West Virginia and Pennsylvania
• Avoid new tax increases and avoid dramatic cuts in education, public safety, health care and other vital services.

For Maryland respects the people and opinions on both sides of this important issue. We also believe in an honest discussion of issues based on facts. That is why we want ALL Marylanders to participate in this important debate about our state and future. We believe that when the facts are presented, Marylanders will decide to vote "for" stronger schools and no tax increases.

With a nearly $700 million budget shortfall predicted by Maryland budget experts, For Maryland believes that the slots referendum is the fiscally responsible decision. By recapturing the millions of dollars already being spent on slot machines in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, the state can maintain its high level of services to our citizens while making Maryland schools stronger...without raising taxes.

The slots referendum guarantees a secure and reliable source of funding for education by dedicating 48.5%-51% of the annual revenue from slots, projected to be over $660 million by 2012, to and Education Trust Fund. The referendum also limits the growth of the gaming in Maryland by specifically designating the number of machines and locations for machines. The referendum also is a Constitutional amendment...so gaming cannot expand anymore in Maryland without a new vote of the people.

Based on our analysis of the state's budget shortfall, we have concluded that the referendum's failure would have significant social costs that could harm thousands of Marylanders because of cuts to education, law enforcement, health care and vital services...in addition to the social costs of tax increases that would make it harder for families and businesses to pay their bills and make ends meet in these tough economic times.

Fred Puddester, Chairman of For Maryland For Our Future, currently serves at the chief budget officer to Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins University in 2000, Puddester served as Maryland's top budget officer as Secretary of Maryland Department of Budget and Management under former Governor Parris Glendening. With more than 20 years of experience in analyzing and managing the fiscal affairs of the state of Maryland, Puddester is a respected expert in state budgets. Puddester joined For Maryland as Chair because he understands the budget crisis facing Maryland and believes the slots referendum is the most fair and responsible way to ensure adequate funding for education and maintaining services without raising taxes.

For Maryland For Our Future is organized as 501c4 and is registered as a ballot issue committee under Maryland election law. Under federal and state laws there is no limit to the contributions that can be made by corporations, labor organizations and individuals (US citizens and legal permanent residents) to For Maryland For Our Future. Checks can be made payable to For Maryland For Our Future, 10125 Colesville Rd., Box 161, Silver Spring, MD 20901.