Expanding gambling in Ohio gets two new hurdles

Court asked to let voters decide slots; Brunner will probe casino petitions.

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By William Hershey, Staff Writer 11:29 PM Monday, July 20, 2009

COLUMBUS — Efforts to expand gambling in Ohio took a double-barreled assault Monday, July 20.

• LetOhioVote.Org, a newly formed committee, asked the Supreme Court to affirm the right of voters to decide whether video slot machines should be placed at Ohio’s seven racetracks. If the court agrees, the group will launch a petition drive to put the issue on the November 2010 ballot and delay plans to roll out the slots before then, Carlo LoParo, spokesman for the group, said.

• Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner announced an investigation into alleged irregularities involving petition circulators gathering signatures to put a plan for four casinos before voters on Nov. 3. In a news release, Brunner said “in the end it is likely to be the Ohio Supreme Court that will determine whether this issue is submitted to voters this fall.”

The challenge to the slots plan comes three days after Gov. Ted Strickland signed a new $50.5 billion, two-year state budget that includes the slots. The budget projects that slots would rake in $933 million over two years to help balance the budget.

If successful, the lawsuit could throw the budget out of balance quickly.

“The governor and legislative leaders should have the courage to place this issue before the voters,” former state Rep. Tom Brinkman, R-Cincinnati, said in a news release.

Amanda Wurst, Strickland’s spokeswoman, said such challenges were expected and “we believe we’re on firm legal ground but we will review the complaint.”

Brunner launched her probe after a separate lawsuit filed Friday with the Supreme Court asked the court to order her to investigate irregularities, including signatures from dead people and use of convicted felons to gather signatures.

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