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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > August > 11
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
FOP launches “Cops for Casinos”
The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, representing nearly 26,000 members, on Tuesday, Aug. 11 endorsed the Nov. 3 ballot issue calling for gambling casinos in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Columbus.
The group also announced formation of “Cops for Casinos”, with the goal of forming a coalition of law enforcement groups backing the four-casino plan.
The Ohio Jobs and Growth Plan, the pro-casino proposal, would provide an estimated $322 million a year to all 88 Ohio counties and eight largest cities, including Dayton, Mark Drum, Ohio FOP treasurer, said at a downtown Columbus press conference.
The money is badly needed to avoid law enforcement layoffs, he said.
“These are tough times for local governments all over Ohio,” said Drum.
Tom Smith, public policy director for the Ohio Council of Churches, watched the outdoor press conference and said the gambling plan would increase crime in the cities with the casino.
Drum, however, said during the press conference that law officers in cities with casinos said they don’t cause any more problems than other big events such as the state fair and Ohio State football games.
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Judge’s decision blows $258 million hole in state budget
Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge David Fais on Tuesday, Aug. 11, blew a $258 million hole in the state budget.
Fais nixed the plan of Gov. Ted Strickland and state legislators to use the $258 million from the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation’s endowment for purposes other than anti-smoking programs.
The budget called for using the money for a variety of social service programs, including expanded health care coverage for children, breast and cervical cancer screenings and county child welfare programs.
Strickland has asked Attorney General Richard Cordray to file an immediate appeal, said Amanda Wurst, Strickland’s spokeswoman.
The ruling “will delay or jeopardize” essential health services for Ohioans, said Wurst.
“The governor is disappointed it took the judge nearly a year and half to make the decision,” Wurst said.
“It’s a big issue,” said Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland, who supports the appeal.
However, Shelly Kiser, spokeswoman for the American Lung Association of Ohio, said the decision was good news. Without additional money for anti-smoking programs, smoking rates in Ohio could creep up, Kiser said.
“Depleting of the Endowment Fund, and discontinuance or reduction of the tobacco prevention and cessation programs funded by the Endowment Fund, would result in a substantial increase in tobacco-related premature death and disease in Ohio,” Fais wrote in his ruling.
“And result in a substantial increase in medical expense for both Ohioans and the state of Ohio for treatment of tobacco-related disease.”
Strickland and lawmakers last year passed legislation to use the money generated by liquidating the endowment for economic development programs. They shifted gears this year, however, and set the money aside for the social service programs.
In his ruling, Fais said that the state eight years ago created the endowment as an “irrevocable trust”. Last year’s legislation to liquidate the endowment was unconstitutional because it violated the prohibition against retroactive legislation, he wrote.
He said the state could find other sources for the money it had wanted to use for economic development.
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Shannon Jones takes state Senate seat
Shannon Jones was sworn in on Tuesday, Aug. 11, to the state Senate, filling the vacancy in the 7th District caused by the death of Robert Schuler.
Jones, 39, of Springboro, said she took the seat with a “heavy heart” because of Schuler’s death but said “I’ll work hard to do him proud.”
She said she was not prepared for the speedy selection process that put her in the seat or she would have gotten a haircut for her son Jacob, 10, and pressed his pants. Jacob was among family members who accompanied Jones at the swearing-in, administered by Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland.
Jones moves to the Senate from the Ohio House where she was serving a second term. She said that the plans to seek election to the Senate seat next year for a full four-year term.
Senate Republicans picked Jones from among four candidates, including former state Reps. Tom Brinkman of Cincinnati and Michelle Schneider of Madeira and Patrick McQuiddy, a pilot from Lebanon.
The Senate district includes Warren County and the eastern portion of Hamilton County. Republicans control the Senate 21-12.
