The Republicans want to hold hearings to get details on the slot machine plan.

By Marc Kovac | July 2, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland (D-Lisbon)

The Republicans want to hold hearings to get details on the slot machine plan.

COLUMBUS — The Ohio House moved another interim measure Wednesday that would enable lawmakers and Gov. Ted Strickland to continue budget negotiations through mid-month.

And House Speaker Armond Budish said his chamber’s finance committee would resume hearings today to determine how to cut another $900 million-plus from the budget, given Senate Republicans’ refusal to move forward with legislation allowing slot machines at horse racing tracks as a way to increase revenue to the state.

In the Senate, President Bill Harris said his chamber begin hearings today on the slots proposal, with hopes of getting details to the plan that he says have not been forthcoming from the Strickland.

The moves likely mean Senate Republicans and the Democratic House and governor will be unable to come to an agreement on the budget before the holiday weekend.

The House voted 84-11 in favor of a second week-long continuing resolution, enabling state spending from July 8-14. That bill heads to the Senate for further consideration.

In the meantime, Budish, a Democrat from the Cleveland area, said the House finance committee will hold hearings today to determine the extent of cuts needed to balance the budget.

“And since the Senate has rejected any tax hikes, it’s become apparent that the Senate intends to propose deep and painful cuts to programs and services.”

Budish said he’s basing his action on the Senate’s non-commitment on the slots proposal.

Harris, a Republican from Ashland, said hearings on the slots proposal also would begin today, via a task force headed by Toledo Republican and conference committee member Mark Wagoner. Other members include Republicans Jon Husted, from Kettering, and Tim Grendell, from Chesterland, and Democrats Capri Cafaro, from Hubbard, and Dale Miller, from Cleveland.

The Senate president has remained firm in his stance that the governor has the authority to implement his video lottery terminal plan without legislative action. But he said Wednesday that the hearings would enable his chamber to better understand the details of the proposal — something that has not yet been released by the governor’s office.

“The governor demands that legislators vote to allow him to expand gambling,” Harris said in a released statement. “How can the governor expect anyone to support him if we don’t even know what his plan actually is.”

He added, “Still missing from this debate are the details. Up until eleven days ago, the governor and I shared the same concerns about expanded gambling in Ohio. Legislative hearings will help senators better understand the specifics of the gambling proposal the governor now says he supports.”