Men backed the deal while women disapproved. Whites and African-Americans supported the Marriott package in nearly equal numbers, but blacks were more likely to disapprove of the deal than whites. Democrats support it overwhelmingly while Republicans line up against the higher tax with nearly equal fervor. The headquarters employs more than 3,000 people, and nearly 1,000 will be added in the next several years. Glendening and his supporters say that the tax credits were necessary to keep a major corporation from leaving Maryland for Virginia.
Opponents say that the tax credits amount to corporate welfare.
His budget for Fiscal Year 2000 is balanced based on the assumption that this tax increase passes the legislature. The Governor and his supporters say that the increased price will reduce smoking, especially teen smoking, and that the revenue raised will fund needed programs. Opponents say that the tax is regressive, that it won't curb teen smoking, and that the increased revenue only serves to make the government bigger. Gore can take some comfort in the fact that his numbers are somewhat better than the President's, but his personal popularity numbers are still rather dismal, nonetheless. Ventura has alternately basked in the media glow and roasted in the media spotlight since his upset victory in November, but there is no denying his appeal to a significant segment of the electorate.