Del. Brian J. Feldman (D-Dist. 15) of Potomac and state Sen. Jennie M. Forehand (D-Dist. 17) of Rockville should be applauded for their efforts in obtaining venture capital for young biotech companies.

Their bill would give these young companies additional capital allowing substantial tax breaks to outside investors. Maryland has the third-largest concentration of biotech firms in the nation, a 2003 report by Ernst and Young found, but it was ninth in the amount of venture funding raised by companies in the sector between 1995 and 2001.

The bill by Del. Feldman and Sen. Forehand would try to spur more funding by allowing individual partners in Maryland venture capital firms to recoup up to 50 percent of their investment in one of the state's biotechnology start-ups through a state income tax credit. The bill would cap the total credits offered at $12 million a year.

Such an incentive would make investors-wealthy people put their money into these young companies and persuade venture firms to set up shop in the state and help the biotech industry, thereby creating more high-paying jobs.

This bill is just what the doctor prescribed for bringing more professional jobs to Maryland.

Yale Wiesberg, Gaithersburg

The writer is a CPA, past-president of the Greater Washington Society of CPAs, and a former IRS appeals officer.

Gambling by any other name ...

An open letter to all legislators who voted against slots:

In the interest of consistency, and in an effort to regain lost credibility in the community, I challenge you to introduce legislation banning all gambling in Maryland. This legislation must include the lottery, Lotto, Keno, scratch-offs, bingo, casino nights, etc.

In short, "Put your money where your mouth is".

Jim Pelura, Davidsonville

Needy will pay bill for slots

Thanks largely to the arm-twisting of the governor, state Senate and House of Delegates have passed bills supporting slots in our state.

One courageous politician, who knows that luck is not always a lady, is Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan. He remains firm in his refusal to promote slots as a funding source for public education. Duncan's rejection of slots for any public project is in direct and welcome opposition to the "slots for tots" propaganda of the pro-gambling crowd. The slippery slope here is the price the poor pay in playing the gambling game.

And let there be no doubt that the neediest will pay a steep price.

The poor are harmed in greater proportion when their money is deposited in slot machines as opposed to a down payment on a home, health care coverage, a retirement account or a college fund.

All of the good intentions of well-meaning slots supporters simply cannot counter the overwhelming negatives associated with the legalization of slot machines. Slots have the potential to cause great harm to our communities. A stretch of luck will not pull anyone up and out; Duncan's emphasis on economic development to support our children's education is our best bet.

Michael L. Subin, Gaithersburg

The writer, a Democrat, is an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council.

We lose money to lottery, why not slots?

Ministers were seen on television in Annapolis last week protesting against slot machines. It is said the general public is against them. The ministers were in heaven because they were allowed to do their favorite thing -- mug for the cameras, whether they knew what they were talking about or not.

I have yet to read anything from the public concerning their opinions on slots. If they are writing, I would hope their opinions would be given the same space as the anti-slots ministers.

There are also questions to be answered that weren't asked, such as who is benefiting from scratch-off tickets and why is it better for us to lose $10, $5, $3, $2 and $1 instead of a quarter. There is nowhere in Maryland where you can play the lottery for less than 50 cents.

Short-sighted politicians are satisfied with Marylanders bearing the burden of generating revenue without outside help. Sure high-priced scratch-off tickets are selling like hot cakes and the machines from hell, Keno, are played with a frenzy, but for how long?

This revenue will bottom out and fall. Better slots now than later.

Mary Duncan, Upper Marlboro

District 20 Democratic incumbents: They're not perfect, but they're pretty darn close

I wish that Green Party activists like Mike Tabor would open an organic winery. Then perhaps they would have something better to do with their sour grapes than trash the accomplished District 20 delegation of Ida Ruben, Peter Franchot, Sheila Hixson and Gareth Murray ("We the people ...," March 25 Issues for our times).

Mr. Tabor's attempt to tie his grudge against District 20's incumbent Democrats with the campaign finance reform bill that was pending in the House of Delegates is only the latest salvo in a long history of sniping by the Greens at Democratic Party regulars.

District 20 incumbents may not be perfect, but they are pretty darn close. Year in and year out they have stood and delivered for the best interests of Silver Spring and Takoma Park. From their support for the desperately needed new Blair High School in the 1990s, to the unprecedented scale of expansion of the Takoma Park campus of Montgomery College since 2000, they fought to ensure world-class educational facilities, greatly enhancing the opportunity structure for the community.

They have also been consistent supporters of living wage legislation and our working class, and have always received organized labor's endorsement. They have delivered numerous programs for the revitalization of downtown Silver Spring, ranging from arts district legislation to increased state bond authority for the construction of the new town center. They have vigorously supported the construction of the Purple Line transit connection.

Sheila Hixson has long led the entire state delegation on the equal rights for gay and lesbian citizens. Peter Franchot is the most outspoken leader of the anti-gambling movement. Ida Ruben has long been at the forefront of alcohol control legislation and was a pioneer in legislation to curb domestic violence.

The District 20 delegation has defended the immigrant community against backlash from right-wing politicians. They've secured state funding for Casa of Maryland and for other non-profit organizations in our community. And finally from their seniority positions on state legislative committees, the District 20 Democrats are pivotal in securing a square deal for the entire county in state budget politics.

It is because of this awesome record, and not as Mr. Tabor alleges because of inadequate campaign finance laws, that Green Party activists have been unable to crack into the victory column in their attempts to supplant Democratic Party officials. But give this to the Greens: like the Ralph Nader presidential candidacies, they never give up. This is much to the delight of Republican activists, who saw the Naderites leverage the victory of George W. Bush in 2000.

It's conservative Republicans more than anyone who would love for Mr. Tabor's dream to be realized. While the landed gentry left might be smug with an ideologically pure delegation, the conservative right would be laughing all the way to the bank as the needy and deserving throughout Montgomery County are left without effective representation in Annapolis.

Randy Boehm, Silver Spring

The writer is vice president of the Gateway-Georgia Avenue Revitalization Corp., a nonprofit community development corporation in Silver Spring.