Steve Kearney

Pro-slots organization For Maryland For Our Future substantially outraised its rival anti-slots group during the last financial period, according to reports filed last week with the State Board of Elections.

For Maryland For Our Future ended the last financial quarter with $558,848.04 cash-on-hand and $3,781,500 in total receipts.

Anti-slots ballot issue committee Marylanders United to Stop Slots ended with $142,896.34 cash-on-hand and $411,053 in total receipts.

For Maryland For Our Future spent hundreds of thousands on television and radio advertising in addition to thousands more on consulting and research services. The vast amount of the committee's cash came from the horse racing industry.

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.

Anti-slots group Marylanders United to Stop Slots wants WBAL-AM to pull two ads being aired by its pro-slots rival organization.

"These advertisements are false and misleading, and knowingly misstate facts and positions on the issue of Question 2, the slots constitutional amendment on the ballot this fall," wrote the group's senior advisor, Scott Arceneaux, in a letter to WBAL-FM. The letter was in reference to two ads being run by the pro-slots group For Maryland For Our Future.

According to Arceneaux, one ad says slots will guarantee $650 million in new education funding each year. "Simply put, this is a lie," he said.