Del. Glass to Boycott Proposed Special Session

Maryland State Delegate announced Tuesday his intention to boycott a special session on gambling expansion, if one is called.

Gov. Martin O'Malley told reporters in June he would be open to calling a special session the week of July 9, according to an article in The Baltimore Sun.

The governor said he would likely introduce a bill on gambling expansion during the session, according to the same article. A work group on gambling could not reach an agreement and negotiations collapsed in mid-June, according to the newspaper.

Glass, a Republican representing Harford and Cecil counties, contends the session would be, "nothing more than a 'get-it-done-quick' Special Session," according to a news release from the delegate.

"If we are called back into session, I will be working in my district and spending time with my constituents instead of blowing taxpayer money on this nonsense," Glass said in the release.

According to the release, the proposed session would cost taxpayers $20,000 a day.

He further contends special sessions are reserved for crisis situations, and feels ensuring gambling expansion is on the 2012 ballot is not a crisis. The original slots program was created during a 2007 special session, according to the release.

"If Maryland’s slots program had been crafted in a more deliberative and thoughtful fashion, rather than in a chaotic frenzy, we would be in a very different position today. We do not need a repeat of past mistakes, the citizens of Maryland deserve better," Glass said in the release.