Using slots as a source for education funding is bad for the long-term needs of education, according to the Montgomery County Federation of Teachers, AFT, Local 1670.
 
"Education should be funded on its own, without a funding source like slot machines," Joseph Monte, MCFT's president, said in a statement in reference to November's slots referendum.
 
Voters will decide in November if the state constitution should be amended to allow up to 15,000 slot machine installations at five different locations across the state. Proponents of slots argue the controversial measure must be passed to provide necessary funding for the state's education infrastructure, but Monte says it's questionable if education will receive the full funding being promised.
 
"We unanimously oppose Question 2," Monte said.
 
Scott Arceneaux , Senior Advisor of anti-slots group Marylanders United to Stop Slots, says the MCFT's opposition indicates "Annapolis insiders" don't have the needs of Maryland families in mind.
 
"Classroom teachers have been down this road before," Arceneaux said. "They were told the lottery would fully fund education, and here we are again with education funding needs. Schools will see no new money with slots - it is just another Annapolis Shell Game. The only people who will see money from slots is the gambling industry - they get $550 million. Schools are guaranteed nothing in the way of new money."
 
Ballot Question 2 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.