COLUMBUS Senate is poised to place slots bill in voters' hands

The bill would provide scholarships to top high school graduates.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- State senators are expected to vote today to place a proposal before voters next year that would bring video slot machines to the state's horse-racing tracks.
The Senate State and Local Government and Veterans Affairs Committee voted 7-1 to approve a proposed constitutional amendment for the March 2004 statewide ballot that would allow so-called "video lottery terminals" in the state.
The committee also approved a bill 7-1 that would govern the operation of the terminals.
State Sen. Larry Mumper, a Marion Republican, voted against the proposed constitutional amendment while State Sen. Kimberly Zurz, a Green Democrat, voted against the bill.
Committee Chairman Kevin Coughlin, a Cuyahoga Falls Republican, predicted success for both measures when they hit the Senate floor today.
"We have the votes," Coughlin declared. A proposed constitutional amendment must be approved by three-fifths majority in each legislative chamber. The bill requires a simple majority.
Supports higher education
State Rep. Sandra Stabile Harwood of Niles, D-65th, said many in her district have approached her about the issue. "They want to have a say in it," she said.
Harwood said the proposal would also help support higher education.
If approved by the full Senate, the House and ultimately Ohio voters, the top 10 percent of Ohio's high-school graduates would be eligible for a $5,900 scholarship renewable for as many as three years.
If an eligible graduate doesn't accept an Ohio Scholarship, the award would go to the next student in the graduating class, under the proposal.
If approved, revenue from the video lottery terminals would be split between the Ohio horse-racing tracks and state coffers. Legislative analysts estimate the state would generate between $200 million and $500 million a year in revenue from video lottery terminals -- electronic machines that can play traditional slot games as well as keno and video poker.
Under the Senate proposal, 5 percent or $25 million of the state's share would also be used for primary, secondary and vocational school building construction.
The proposal also funds an incentive-based scholarship program that would encourage Ohioans to pursue a college education.
For and against
A representative of the state's horse-racing interests said he was pleased with the proposal.
"It is worthy of your support," said Gregg Haught, who represents Northeast Ohio's Thistledown racetrack and the Ohio Horse Racing Council. "It allows the voters, at the March election, to make a choice."
But a representative of the Ohio Council of Churches said the proposal, if implemented, would take another step toward allowing casino-style gambling in Ohio.
"If it looks like a casino, operates the hours of a casino, and has many more losers than winners, it's probably a casino," Smith said.
Senate Minority Leader Gregory L. DiDonato, a Dennison Democrat, said between six and eight of the upper chamber's 11 Democrats could vote for the proposal on the Senate floor.
"There's support in our caucus because of the scholarship program," said DiDonato, who said he would likely vote for the video-slots legislation.
Minority House Democrats said many in their ranks support using video slot machines to help fund college scholarships. Republicans outnumber Democrats in the House 62 to 37.
Gov. Bob Taft, a Republican, has vowed to oppose a slot-machine proposal if it makes it onto the state ballot.
Twice in the 1990s, Ohio voters rejected proposals to legalize casino gambling in the state.