The senior United States Senator from Ohio has expressed his disagreement and dismay with the current state governor’s stance on gambling within the state. Senator George Voinovich, a former Ohio governor and mayor of Cleveland, stated that Governor Ted Strickland has changed his stance on allowing slot machines to be set up at the state’s horse racing tracks. Senator Voinovich has been a long-time opponent of legalized gambling in the state.
Senator Voinovich, a Republican, had previously allied himself with Governor Strickland, a Democrat, to oppose any measure that would lead to the expansion of gambling in Ohio. The two politicians joined together to stop a gambling proposal on a statewide ballot in 2006. They also both spoke out on another proposal available to voters in 2008. Both ballot initiatives were voted down.
However, due to the recent economic recession and the heavy job losses incurred by industries within the state, officials were facing a budget crisis due to the severe shortfall in tax revenue. With that in mind, the state legislature approved a plan this past summer to allow the state’s seven racetracks to install up to 17,500 slot machines. The Ohio Lottery Commission will oversee the operation of these new machines.
A spokesperson for the governor stated that the option of using the slot machines to generate tax revenue was much more preferable to the other choice of raising taxes on citizens that had recently lost their jobs. The governor’s office also said that slot machine revenue was the best option available and that officials expect to bring in almost US$1 billion into the state’s treasure in the next two years.
Senator Voinovich stated that he understood Governor Strickland’s dilemma, but that he would have opted to raise taxes, as he did as governor in 1992, rather than allow for expanded gambling in the state. Senator Voinovich also expressed his fears that the slot machines would be available to underage players and would harm area families. He has also opposed a new measure to allow for casino gaming in the state.
