Editorial from today's Independent is interesting:

Three delegates representing the Lower Shore have put their names -- Mathias, Conway, Elmore -- to a bill that would divert 10 percent of a fund made up of skimmed revenues from slots at Ocean Downs to the OPA, at the expense of Worcester County government. The plan voted on in a statewide referendum called for the local fund to be divided three ways -- 70 percent to the county, 20 percent to Ocean City, 10 percent to Berlin. But the bill introduced last week would peg the county's share at 60 percent, and the Ocean Pines Association would belly up to the table to claim that 10 percent.

If - if - the bill passes in Annapolis and is signed by the governor it will be quite a coup for C.O.P.E., the citizens group with some past board members in its ranks that's run a letter-writing campaign to divert 15 percent to the Pines (they say they're content with 10 percent if that's what's achievable politically). It would not, however, buttress anyone's impression that the OPA board pulls weight in Annapolis, because the board declined to ask legislators directly for a slice of the money. As board president Dave Stevens said to an Independent reporter, "It's not what we on the board thought was the best approach, but we are certainly not opposed to it."

The board's approach was to send all the fund's revenues to the county, and fall on the mercy of County Commissioners. That approach would have needlessly antagonized Ocean City and Berlin. The proposed bill is a better way to bring the Pines into the fold; here's hoping Senator Lowell Stoltzfus introduces a matching piece of legislation in the state senate and guides it to passage.