Another longtime slots supporter—the Maryland Chamber of Commerce—came out Tuesday to push a yes vote in November’s referendum vote. The chamber, which has backed slots since 2002, argues that slot machines are going to help draw new money for education. That’s the same argument employed by the Maryland Association of Counties and the Maryland State Teachers Association. An MSTA representative joined chamber officials at Tuesday’s news conference.

But right below the surface is a more expansive budget issue.

Slots, if approved, would mostly solve a painful budget bailout that has been in high gear since Gov. Martin O’Malley took office last year. As last year’s special session showed, the business community takes quite a hit when the state has to close big budget gaps. The state raised more than an annual $1 billion in new taxes during that session. Slots would bring in close to that amount by 2013, according to state projections.

“They can cut, which they’re unlikely to do, they can raise taxes on top of [what they’ve done in the past year], or some combination,” said Chamber President and CEO Kathy Snyder.

She said none of these options looks good. And she believes some of those cuts will have to come from education—which the chamber supports as a workforce development tool.

The chamber has an argument that slots will support education spending, because dedicated money from slots will support public schools, but Snyder said she also believes voters will be influenced by the idea that they might have to pay more taxes. After all, it’s not just businesses that pay new taxes. Sales tax affects everybody, for example.

Opponents would argue that the state can solve long-term budget problems with more careful spending.

So what do you think? Should we have slots in Maryland? If so, what’s the best argument for them—money for education, fewer tax increases or something else? If not, what’s the best argument against slots?

ANDY ROSEN, Business Writer

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Baltimore’s a leading city in the creation of green roofs, says an organization set to convene tomorrow in town.

Green Roofs For Healthy Cities says Baltimore came in third for square footage of green roof projects built in 2007. (We had 122,000 sq. ft.). Chicago and Wilmington, Del. surpassed Charm City, while D.C. and Philadelphia came in seventh and eighth.

Green roofs use plants to absorb rainfall and provide insulation while reducing energy consumption.

Anyone know where all the green roofs are in town? Here’s a few, including a BP gas station on Key Highway.

JACKIE SAUTER, Web Editor

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Does your dog pant at your feet, desperate for a taste of your raw/organic snacks? Sick of the canine-on-human jealousy?

My Organic Market announced this week that your pet need not suffer with traditional food and toys any longer. Introducing: Mighty Healthy Pet, the new College Park store by MOM’s.

A bit about their mission, from the release:

In addition to a large variety of raw frozen dog and cat diets, wellness products including supplements and natural grooming aids are also offered. Unique toys and accessories, such as hemp toys and organic cotton beds, round out the eco-friendly assortment.

Here’re a few of the store’s premium brands. There are raw, cooked, freeze-dried and hypoallergenic grain-free options, “for sensitive cats and dogs.”

• Stella & Chewy’s From the Farm
• Halo Purely for Pets
• Wild Kitty Cat Food
• Honest Kitchen
• Country Pet
• The Raw Advantage

Let’s take a poll: who thinks this is a sustainable business? Can an eco-friendly pet store survive, especially in today’s economy (in College Park, of all places)?

JACKIE SAUTER, Web Editor

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Well, it’s out with the old and in with the new at the Baltimore Ravens Store this week. Less than 48 hours after the team used its first round draft pick to add University of Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco to its roster, the Flacco No. 5 replica jersey went on sale Monday.

Chad Steele, director of media relations for the team, reports 30 jerseys sold the first day (“which is pretty good,” he adds).

Meanwhile, any merchandise related to former Ravens QB Steve McNair, who recently announced his retirement, is half off and being shipped for free.

While the site has a photo of McNair with the message “Thank you Steve,” this is still one of those times you are reminded that football is a business. For the Ravens, this product didn’t pan out as well as they’d hoped. They’re likely hoping a newer model in Flacco (who will likely compete with resident backups Kyle Boller and Troy Smith for the starting spot) will produce better results.

But it’s different when the product is an icon — an oldie-but-a-goodie you didn’t want to see go. A visit to the Green Bay Packers Web site shows that it’s not only selling retired QB Brett Farve’s jerseys at full price, but they’ve actually created more Favre-related merchandise, such as “Favre We Won’t 4 Get” or “Favre for President” slogan tee-shirts.

Notwithstanding applause to the Packers organization for cashing in on a player even after he’s off the roster, is the “Brett Favre Collection” an anomaly or are there Ravens players that also carry this kind of cache? If linebacker Ray Lewis announced his retirement today, would the folks over at Owings Mills start drumming up “Thank you Ray” tees?

LIZ FARMER, Business Writer

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I’m at the Society of American Business Editors and Writers conference at the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel. An afternoon presentation was interrupted by union members in advance protest of speaker David Rubenstein, who is co-founder and managing director of the Carlyle Group.

The Service Employees International Union was railing against Carlyle’s ownership of the nursing home operator Manor Care, claiming that it hadn’t lived up to its staffing level commitments at its facilities.

At one point, hotel staff rushed into the conference and began to fiddle with the electronic locks on the entry doors. Outside in the hall, a chant began. I couldn’t make it out at the time, but others later told me it was “Better staffing, better care, no more money for millionaires” (or maybe it was billionaires — I’m just not sure).

Rubenstein, who had not yet arrived when the protest began, later said that the union was trying to embarrass company officials into altering its labor policy.

The room full of journalists began to debate whether to let a union member come in and question Rubenstein. So far, it hasn’t happened. Typically these forums are limited to society members. Do you think that’s fair, or would you make an exception in this case?

ANDY ROSEN, Business Writer

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If you’re curious when to expect your economic stimulus check (…or already mentally spending it…), click here to see the IRS’s payment schedule.

The schedule’s based on the last two digits of your social security number: basically, the lower the digits are, the faster you’ll get your check. And if you used direct deposit for your federal tax return, you’ll have cash in hand sooner than your paper-check counterparts.

If you didn’t pay your taxes on time – tsk tsk – you should expect to wait at least two weeks longer.

Apparently some lucky ducks could even see their deposits today.

JACKIE SAUTER, Web Editor

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A Baltimore marketing company, The Becker Group, is teaming with Warner Bros. to bring the public “Harry Potter: The Exhibition.”

The 10,000 square-foot exhibition will visit at least ten cities around the globe (Anyone think Baltimore will make the cut? …Well, maybe D.C. will).

And, it boasts “artifacts” from the movies based on J.K. Rowling’s boy wizard book series.

If you’re not familiar with the series’ storyline, folks, we might lose you here: By “artifacts,” they’re referring to props and costumes from the sets of Harry’s school, Hogwarts, including the Gryffindor common room and Hagrid’s hut. More specimens will be added to the exhibit’s lineup as the final H.P. films wrap production.

It was only a matter of time before Potter was spun into a museum display for gawking tourists; as the most successful film franchise in the world, Potter movies have grossed more than $4.5 billion dollars. That’s a lot of galleons, sickles and knuts.

If the name Becker rings a bell, here’s a clue: the company prizes itself on experiential marketing – creating immersive attractions for casinos, theme parks, malls, you name it. Assistant Business Editor Ben Mook profiled the company in December.

JACKIE SAUTER, Web Editor

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Rockville businesses say their immediate future looks bright, despite the uncertain economy.

The business community just wrapped up its third annual Rockville Business Appreciation Week – when, apparently, businesses were celebrated by being polled on their economic outlook.

According to Rockville Economic Development, Inc., the visits were conducted with a “diverse array” of companies in terms of size and sector. They even included a home-based consultancy business.

Here’s some highlights:

• 44 percent of the companies polled plan to grow by adding employees within the next year. Only 3 percent expect to lose employees in that timeframe.

• The “vast majority” of companies polled are confident their industry will not be affected by a recession or have already retooled to become more recession proof.

• Companies commented that international investors and customers are taking advantage of strong international currencies and are even more willing to do business with a U.S. company.

“We couldn’t have been more pleased that so many companies are planning to grow despite the current macroeconomic stresses,” said Sally Sternbach, REDI‘s executive director.

Imagine that.

Good thing, too, since Rockville businesses contribute $13M annually in property taxes — money that MoCo really can’t afford to miss out on with the county’s current budget deficit.

In case you’re curious, there are more than 7500 businesses in the city of Rockville, one of our state’s largest cities, that employ more than 100,000 people.

JACKIE SAUTER, Web Editor

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Some of Maryland’s top-earning CEOs are missile makers, energy producers, power tool manufacturers and hoteliers.

Clearly these are complex businesses that require some of the best minds to keep them afloat. Maybe that’s why the men behind Lockheed Martin Corp. (Robert J. Stevens, at left), Constellation Energy Group Inc., Black & Decker Corp. and Marriott International Inc. raked in $61 million between them last year, even as the economy tanked.

That may seem like a large chunk of change for four men, but their average compensation — $15.25 million — isn’t that far off from the average salary of a CEO of a Standard & Poor’s 500 company in 2007, which came out to $14.2 million.

If you’re having a hard time stomaching the puffed up payday these executives get, you’re not alone. Congress has questioned the mentality of paying CEOs oodles of money even when their companies collapse.

If you’re into feeling dwarfed, the AFL-CIO has created a CEO pay database that lets you compare your salary to your favorite company’s top dog.

Once you’ve done that, factor in how much work it would take to run the show at Lockheed or Marriott, and then ask yourself: Do these guys make too much?

DANIELLE ULMAN, Business Writer

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Not a huge surprise, but…

The Maryland Association of Counties is calling for a “yes” vote in this fall’s referendum on whether to allow slot machines around the state. MACo has backed slots since Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. was in office, largely as a way to pay for public education improvements.

At a news conference Thursday, MACo leaders struck a tone that you’re likely to hear throughout the campaign. Essentially, advocates say we need slots to shore up the state’s finances once and for all. After all, slots are expected to bring in more than $1 billion by fiscal 2012.

Here’s what Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr., who is also MACo president, had to say:

“Without the slots revenue, Maryland will be looking at creating a new budget deficit or higher taxes or significant cuts to education.”

Slots foes say it is not fair to ask people to make what they see as a distasteful choice in order to avoid a perceived outcome that is even worse.

“There can be investments made that don’t come with the incumbent cost of slots,” Scott Arceneaux, a senior adviser to Marylanders United to Stop Slots, said during a panel discussion last week. He says slots will wind up hurting Maryland by causing problem gambling.

Do you think it’s just politics? What do you think would happen if the referendum were to fail? It will surely make for some interesting reading over the next year or so.

ANDY ROSEN, Business Writer

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