COLUMBUS Senate approves slots measures

Backers say the plan will keep Ohioans' money from flowing to other states.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- A proposal to ask voters to decide whether video slot machines should come to Ohio is one step closer to the statewide ballot.
The Senate approved Wednesday a pair of measures that would seek to authorize up to 2,500 video slot machines at each of Ohio's seven horse-racing tracks with the state's share of the proceeds earmarked for college scholarships and school construction.
Senators OK'd 24-9 a proposed constitutional amendment for the March 2004 ballot that would ask Ohio voters to authorize video slot machines in this state and approved 21-12 a bill that would govern their use.
At least 20 votes -- a three-fifths majority -- is needed to submit a proposed constitutional amendment to voters statewide.
Reaction
"This is inventive. This is historic," said state Sen. Kevin Coughlin, a Cuyahoga Falls Republican who chaired the Senate committee that crafted both measures.
"We needed to do something dramatic. I think this is a great day in the Senate," said state Sen. Eric Fingerhut, a Cleveland Democrat who first introduced the idea of using revenue from video slot machines to help finance college scholarships.
If approved by voters, revenue from the video slot machines would be split between the race 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, 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, 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 seek to encourage Ohioans to pursue a college education.
Reversing the flow
Backers of the plan said it would allow Ohio to capture dollars that now flow from the state to gambling destinations in Michigan, Indiana and West Virginia.
"The citizens of Ohio should be able to make that choice," said Senate Minority Leader Gregory L. DiDonato, a Dennison Democrat who voted for the constitutional amendment and the bill. "I'd rather see the money stay here."
"If this is sold the right way and talked about the right way, it could pass with a lot of support from people who believe that there should be help for higher education funding," said state Sen. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-33rd, who also voted for the constitutional amendment and the bill.
But critics say that expanding legalized gambling will only hurt the state and its families through increased gambling addiction and other social problems.
Both measures now move to the House for consideration.