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State lawmakers, governor reach a compromise on terminals at racetracks
By Dennis J. Willard
Beacon Journal Columbus Bureau
Published on Saturday, Jul 11, 2009
COLUMBUS: Absent a lawsuit to stop them, slot machines are coming to Ohio.
On Friday, after several weeks of intense and sometimes personal bickering, Gov. Ted Strickland and legislative leaders forged a compromise that has each side claiming the other blinked.
Under the plan, Strickland will issue an executive order to lay out the details of placing 2,500 slot machines, called video lottery terminals, at Ohio's seven horse racetracks to raise a projected $933 million.
In turn, the legislature, through the two-year budget bill, will address potential legal problems, particularly putting into the Ohio Revised Code that a video lottery terminal is a game authorized by the Ohio Lottery Commission, although it does not issue a ticket.
Short-term, the agreement ends a stalemate that has forced lawmakers and the governor to pass two interim budgets to keep state government operating.
Lawmakers are to return Monday to complete the $54 billion two-year state budget that was
supposed to take effect July 1.
Strickland wanted lawmakers to include the slot machines in the two-year budget. Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland, said his members would not authorize slot machines in legislation, but would take the issue directly to voters this November.
Harris had maintained that the governor had the authority to place slot machines at the tracks through executive order.
Strickland hailed the agreement for balancing the budget without raising taxes.
''Under the bipartisan agreement, I will issue a directive instructing Ohio's lottery director to expeditiously take all necessary actions to implement video lottery terminals at Ohio racetracks,'' Strickland announced.
''The General Assembly will acknowledge the lottery's authority to implement video lottery terminals and provide for a statutory definition of video lottery terminals and other implementation requirements in House Bill 1, the operating budget bill.''
While Strickland praised the bipartisanship of the agreement, Harris took a firmer approach with the governor.
The Senate leader issued a statement Friday afternoon ''regarding the governor's decision to issue an executive order to authorize video lottery terminals at Ohio racetracks.''
He also couldn't resist an ''I told you so.''
''As I have said many times in the past few weeks, I believe he has the authority to do that and that I would be willing to pass legislation to implement it. As such, I have agreed to include language in the conference committee report that will acknowledge his authority to expand the lottery,'' Harris noted.
Strickland believes the slot machines should be placed at tracks that are age-appropriate venues where gambling already occurs.
It's not over yet
In the months to come, there will be a lot of debate, questions and, presumably, lawsuits filed raising significant questions about the approach to expanded gambling agreed upon Friday by state leaders.
Strickland must be credited, or blamed, depending on your view, with placing slot machines at the horse racetracks.
Lawmakers are only clearing the deck of any legal debris that might get in his way, but the changes in law alone are not authorizing anything.
So the executive order that Strickland issues will determine the number of slots at each track, the terms and license fees for tracks, the split, the payment schedule, the amount of money that will be dedicated to building purses for horse races, construction requirements and other extremely important contract details.
By taking this approach, in which the governor authorizes and the legislature defines, Strickland and future governors will now be free to expand gambling as they wish.
Open to interpretation
Slot machines are going to be lottery machines, and nothing outlined Friday indicates the legislature is going to define in law where the lottery machines can be located.
So expect to hear soon from bars, bowling alleys and other entertainment venues across the state that they, too, need video lottery terminals to survive in this ultracompetitive, nonsmoking state.
Strickland can draw a line in the sand and state his executive order will limit slot machines to horse tracks only, but legally he could change his mind any time he chooses.
Dennis J. Willard can be reached at 614-224-1613 or dwillard@thebeaconjournal.com.
COLUMBUS: Absent a lawsuit to stop them, slot machines are coming to Ohio.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Tallmadge, OH
Posted 05:24 AM, 07/11/2009
Stricknine has cooked his goose. The majority in Ohio have said 4 times - No gambling. I'm sure it will make it to a vote because the anti-gambling coalition is already preparing their legal challenge and force a vote again of the people on it.
barberton, oh
Posted 05:36 AM, 07/11/2009
well we know they will be in more places than the 7 racetracks! on every corner and every plaza,
Posted 06:59 AM, 07/11/2009
First. I am not opposed to gambling.
However the manner in which the Governor went about this is wrongheaded and, ultimately, will not serve the state nor it's people. He rushed into this with only one thought in mind..saving his political career by not raising taxes. Increasing taxes on wealthy Ohioians back to their 2004 levels and going back to the 2005 cororate tax rates would have done much to balance the budget.
He then could have proposed a well thought out and well crafted plan to introduce gambling in such a manner that it would not only increase state revenues but create jobs, attract tourism, encourage the creation of small business enterprises (motels, restaurants, shops, etc.) that
inturn creates jobs and, thus, brings in even more tax revenue. This racetrack propasal does none of this except bring in a supply of "quick fix" cash.
Mr. Strickland..you've term limited yourself..to one term!
Akron, oh
Posted 07:03 AM, 07/11/2009
There goes all the welfare money. These dummies will run to the slots. They ran to the computer connection gaming.
My buddy has 3 of the computer gaming places in N.C. He stated he finally beat Obama and got all the stimulus checks.
Beginning of the month he makes money hands over fist.
I can see the fat welfare mommas sitting at the machines now!
uniontown, oh
Posted 07:27 AM, 07/11/2009
OldManGrump
Stricknine has no more cooked his goose than Obama!
Those yoyo's who voted for him and Obama are so giddy over them that they will never see any thing wrong with what there guys in office do.
These guys can put a knife in the voter's back and the voter would turn around and thank them.
Posted 07:43 AM, 07/11/2009
5 against the slots....O for the slots. That figures.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:07 AM, 07/11/2009
If people want to stand on a bridge and toss their own money away, that's their business. Ditto for slot machines, prostitution, pot and pot -- all of which could be taxed and used to make up deficits in state budgets.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:11 AM, 07/11/2009
Hmmm, it seems that there isn't any end to Teddyboy's hypocrisy. First he was against it before he was for it.
Posted 08:17 AM, 07/11/2009
if you think slots can't be fixed,better think again!you often hear that mountaineer race track is being fined for altering slot machines and ohio is flat out telling you they(ohio) need money to fix the budget?you gotta be an idiot not to be able to read that.good luck!
barberton, oh
Posted 09:08 AM, 07/11/2009
Irish Lou, A quick fix for his lottery buddies pockets
Canton, OH
Posted 09:20 AM, 07/11/2009
Strickland has flip flopped on this issue. . .Ted, go back to sellin' ice cream. . .
Posted 09:28 AM, 07/11/2009
Post count: 10 against.....0 for..............Makes you wonder if all the post's are getting through.
Stow, OH
Posted 09:46 AM, 07/11/2009
Just for the record , I like gambling,but this is nothing but a money grab ,quick fix by the state that will create zero jobs.
Notice they won't say what the payouts will be on these machines but they can tell you they plan to make $933 million on them. Do the math 933 mil. for only 2500 machines ? You would be a fool to play one, not me brother .
akron, oh
Posted 10:07 AM, 07/11/2009
its about time
Posted 01:37 PM, 07/11/2009
haha fat painter obama is president and it's killing you...georgie boy was just great in your book....
uniontown, oh
Posted 02:02 PM, 07/11/2009
Tampa Frank
Hope it works out for ya!
And when things do go south on you then ya can't blame ol georgie boy for that!
And while we are at it...Congress now has their 60 votes to hedge off any Republican attempt to block their actions. From now on you'll own this mess. Enjoy!
Akron, OH
Posted 02:44 PM, 07/11/2009
Bring on the Slots
It will save me gas from going to W.Va. or Pa. and giving them the money for shoes; when I could give it to Ohio.
Posted 03:59 PM, 07/11/2009
Race tracks are boring, they're full of old men with cigars, and losers who don't have to quarters to rub together, I like going out of state to gamble its like a mini vacation. Lets face it this is just a shot at some quick money, who cares, it does make me laugh at all the anger people have over it, its almost as good as TV.
Anti-Politically Correct & Anti-GOP, OH
Posted 04:23 PM, 07/11/2009
This is a step in the right direction. It would be nice to get table games like Black Jack, Craps, and Roulette in too.
Akron, Oh
Posted 06:58 PM, 07/11/2009
To Tampa Frank and Fat Painter: It is absolutely astounding that Obama could take over a country that was so down from the last President and make matters worse. Obama had no where to go but up. But noooooooo he makes Bush look like a frugal genius. Obama is so clueless he's actually worse than Bush and the country is headed for hell in a handbasket.
Forget the slot machines, the people who voted in this Obama character have already gambled away this state and the 49 others future, save Texas, who I heard might secede.
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:09 PM, 07/11/2009
Tampa Frank says: "haha Fat Painter Obama is president and it's killing you". Believe me pal this buffoon, Obama, is going to kill the whole country, you included! Wake up and smell the DEBT!
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:21 PM, 07/11/2009
Someone tell Tampa Frank if he has any children they're going to be saddled with Obama's debt and he's going to be saddled with soon to hit outrageous inflation! Present day dollar worth $.80 or less. It will be the worst inflation in American history worse than Jimmy "Peanut" Carter. Keep printing those dollars, Obama, and passing them around. Even if you hit the slots it will lose its value before you get out the door.
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:21 PM, 07/11/2009
Testing 2 posts not posted now
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:25 PM, 07/11/2009
Where are my posts, Willard? You scumbag!
Posted 08:15 PM, 07/11/2009
OMG, not so true. Many people said no to gambling in the past because the laws were poorly drafted, myself included. I think Strickland eff'd up on this one, but whatever. I hope it at least sets up the slippery slope to a well drafted casino bill. At least that would create jobs.
righthere, oh
Posted 08:26 PM, 07/11/2009
HA HA HA
Another tax on people too stupid to learn math.
Walnut Creek, Oh
Posted 01:32 AM, 07/12/2009
The way I see it, everything including marajuana should be legal. You can choose whether to do it or not. Life is all about choices. You can choose to spend all your money foolishly on gambling, or save it like I do. America is becoming so much of a socialist country, and the government is trying to tell everyone how to breathe, when to use the bathroom, and whether or not to smoke. But don't worry, we will tax all the rich people who have worked hard for their money, and we, (the gov't), will share their hard earnings with you poor people who live on welfare and don't want to work. Choose your own way people.
Akron, OH
Posted 02:18 PM, 07/12/2009
This is interesting if Ohio is not suppose to have Casinos
http://www.casinocity.com/us/oh/toledo/csipoker/
Wonder why the call it a Casino
