Jamie Raskin

ROCKVILLE - Slot machines would be nothing but bad news for Maryland's economy and residents, according to some Montgomery County Democrats.

A group of elected officials gathered Monday afternoon to criticize the so-called benefits of approving gambling in Maryland to help cure a looming budget deficit.

"The idea of slots in Maryland is an invitation to a race at the bottom," said state Sen. Brian Frosh in front of the Red Brick Courthouse. "The message you get from the referendum is ‘let's dive in.'"

It seems that state Sen. Jamie Raskin, the most legislatively prolific freshman in the General Assembly, has plans to introduce a bill providing early voting.

Normally, this allows a few polling places to open several days, if not weeks before election day – which becomes more like a deadline with all the regular polling places activated.