Racetracks will take slots issue to voters if bill falters

The industry needs to know this week if legislation is ready to move.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- The Legislature must respond soon to a new push to get racetrack-operated video slot machines on the November ballot if the state is to retain any control over the issue.
Racetrack interests could take the issue directly to the voters, but they would need 322,899 valid signatures of registered voters -- 10 percent of the total vote in the 2002 election for governor -- by Aug. 4.
A group of lawmakers, racetrack lobbyists and others has been working privately on legislation to be passed by the end of May. They are trying to get the final proposal put together this week.
The industry needs to know this week if legislation is ready to move, said Paul Tipps, a lobbyist who represents Beulah Park in suburban Columbus. Whether it's through the Legislature or directly to the ballot, "we'll know which way to go," he said.
The plan would split the state's share of the profits -- about $500 million a year -- three ways: half for scholarships for Ohio's top high school students, 30 percent for primary-secondary education, and 20 percent for childhood development programs such as Head Start.
"It's an issue that will bring Democrats to the ballot. It will be hard to find anyone against it," said House Minority Leader Chris Redfern, a Port Clinton Democrat.
Lawmakers
It isn't hard to find votes against it in the Legislature. Since the issue would be a constitutional amendment, it would require a three-fifths majority -- 60 of 99 House members and 20 of 33 senators -- for passage. Most lawmakers who oppose the resolution are against any expansion of state-sponsored gambling beyond the lottery and racing.
Redfern said 14 to 17 members out of 37 in his Democratic caucus could support the legislation. That means Republican Rep. Bill Seitz of Cincinnati, who is carrying the Senate-passed legislation in the House, would need 43 to 46 votes from his 62-member caucus to move the resolution. Seitz said he thinks he has enough votes if Redfern's numbers come through.
"We'll know when we take the vote. My job is tougher than his job because there are so many of them. Everybody is guarded," Seitz said.
Gov. Bob Taft opposes the idea, but since it would take the form of a resolution, it would not require his signature to go before voters. Taft has said he would campaign against it if it qualifies for the ballot.
The Senate in October passed a resolution authorizing the slots. It would provide about $475 million of the state's share for college scholarships and about $25 million for school construction.
The version currently being discussed would provide about $250 million a year for scholarships for the top 5 percent of each Ohio school's senior class and for those not in that bracket but who do well on proficiency tests, have 95 percent attendance records and meet other standards.
The 30 percent that would go to schools would provide $89 for each public school pupil in Ohio, plus a small percentage increase for aid to nonpublic schools, mostly parochial schools. The state helps those schools pay for textbooks, tutoring and other learning aids.
"It's important to point out that it's not money that the Department of Education will handle. These are direct payments to school districts to spend as they see fit -- $89 a head," Redfern said.
Democrats, though, have concerns that the money will be seen as a way to scale back the state's per-pupil funding.
Senate Minority Leader Greg DiDonato, a Dennison Democrat, said as many as six of the 11 Democrats in the Senate could support the proposal if they can be assured that per-pupil funding is not going to get circumvented.
Sen. Louis Blessing, a Cincinnati Republican who sponsored the original legislation, did not return a telephone call seeking comment.
House Speaker Larry Householder has not referred the resolution to a House committee for hearings. He hasn't received a final proposal from the group negotiating its terms, said Dwight Crum, Householder's spokesman.