Franchot to pro-slots group: Stop the 'swift-boat style' attacks

Comptroller Peter Franchot is refuting attacks from pro-slots organization For Maryland For Our Future, claiming the charges against him are "outright lies."

Franchot was referencing two new television ads launched last week by For Maryland For Our Future. The organization said the ads were intended to correct Comptroller Peter Franchot's "misleading" and "false public statements" about November's slots referendum.

Franchot (D-Takoma Park) has been an active opponent of Question 2. Many observers feel the first-term comptroller intends to make a run for governor, but Franchot says he's not interested in seeking higher office.

"In the past year, Peter Franchot has tried to run away from his record on slots," said For Maryland For Our Future in a statement released last week.

Franchot called the statement a "swift-boat style attack carried out by Governor Martin O'Malley's handpicked campaign chairman - Dean Fred Puddester of Johns Hopkins University."

Franchot admitted his position has changed, but said it's been the same case for Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-Baltimore), who is now a proponent of the slots referendum.

"You know, the governor once called slots 'fools gold' and a 'morally bankrupt way to fund education.' But now he says it is the economic future of our state," said Franchot. "So, like the governor, my position has changed."

Franchot then said he doesn't want the situation to get anymore out of control.

"I am calling on Governor O'Malley to order his campaign to cease and desist with the negative attacks," Franchot said. "It is my bet that the people of this great state are sick of the empty promises, tired of the lies, and ready to fight back against the corrosive influences of tainted money and Karl Rove-style politics."

For Maryland For Our Future argued they were just stating the facts.

"There are honorable people on both sides of this debate, but facts are facts - and correcting misinformation is not an attack," said Steve Kearney, a spokesman for the organization, in a statement.

He continued: "Just a few years ago - in 2001 and 1998 - Peter Franchot was one of the leading cosponsors of slots referendum legislation that gave less money to education and more money to slots operators than Question 2.  But now, when Maryland actually needs slots money to fix the budget and fund education, Peter Franchot is zealously against slots.  These are facts."

Voters will decide on November's ballot if the state constitution should be amended to allow no more than 15,000 slot machine installations at five different locations across the state.

The slots referendum has become one of the most heated issues in the state. Proponents argue the slots will provide necessary funding for the state's education infrastructure and will help close the budget deficit. Opponents believe the revenue projections are overly optimistic, the ballot's language is misleading, and the problems associated with gambling far outweigh the benefits.