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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > July > 02 > Entry
Strickland won’t do slots without lawmaker OK
Gov. Ted Strickland on Thursday July 2 urged lawmakers to negotiate throughout the holiday weekend until a budget deal is struck.
He also said he cannot legally put video lottery terminals at Ohio’s racetracks without a law change. Last month, Strickland proposed adding video slot machines at the seven horse tracks as a way to generate $933 million over two years for the state budget but Senate Republicans are balking.
Strickland had said that he opposed expanding gambling, particularly since Ohio voters have said No to four gambling proposals since 1990. But he switched course to help bail out the budget even though it may be used against him later.
“I own the VLT issue. Some people say I’m looking for cover. Let me say to you as clearly as I can say it: I own that issue,” Strickland said. “And I realize that it is very likely to be an accusation in some future political campaign.”
The governor declined to answer whether he’d pick tax hikes or more budget cuts to balance the budget if the slot machine proposal doesn’t pass.
Ohio is facing a $3.2 billion budget gap for the upcoming two-year operating budget. Strickland noted that Ohio isn’t as bad off as some states that failed to pass new budget plans and discontinued negotiations.
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Comments
By Panman
July 7, 2009 10:20 AM | Link to this
A good place to start reducing the budget would be to reduce the number of law enforcement officers on the state payroll. Do we really need 1 police officer for every 78 citizens in Ohio? Another would be to stop jailing parents for non support. While we’re on child support, do we really need a state OCSE when every county has one? Is this duplication of effort? I think it is in all three of these issues. It’s bad enough that tapyers have to support other peoples kids why should we pay to support the parent and pay more cops and jailers to supervise them when there is no chance to recover that money if they aren’t working?By Ted
July 2, 2009 11:28 PM | Link to this
Strickland has the authority as governor thru the Ohio Lottery to unilaterally set up the slots at the reacetracks just as he added keeno thru the Ohio Lottery to bars. He doesn’t need the Senate’s okay; c’mon Strickland just do your job as the state’s chief executive and put the slots at the racetracks already. Time to man up, Guv’nor.By Mr.Logic
July 2, 2009 5:28 PM | Link to this
Video gambling failed to save horse racing in at least one eastern state NH. Why should a race track have an exclusivity on VLTs’?Put them in every business if it will lower my property taxes. If horse racing can’t stand on it’s own four hoofs it should be put out to pasture and fail. Gambling is legalized stealing.By John
July 2, 2009 4:13 PM | Link to this
We need the slot’s in Ohio . Why do you want the bordering state’s to keep getting all this tax money. Save the horse racing job’s and add 1,000’s to the Montgomery county payroll. Lebanon raceway will move to Dayton if this get’s passed. We need the job’s more than any other county, This is a win win situationBy Matt
July 2, 2009 4:03 PM | Link to this
We have all be telling Strickland for the longest time that we need this. I am tried of the news telling us that the State Of Ohio can’t get it budget together. This will help big time. What the hell is he waiting on.