Strickland wins budget battle, plans to OK slots at racetracks

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Capri Cafaro

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Ohio Governor Ted Strickland (D-Lisbon)

Sen. Capri Cafaro of Liberty believes the plan is better than raising taxes.

STAFF/WIRE REPORT

COLUMBUS — Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland will authorize racetrack slots by executive order, and lawmakers will provide him legal protection under a stalemate-ending budget compromise struck Friday.

The order is the linchpin of a compromise with Senate Republicans, who have in turn agreed to include language in the $54 billion, two-year state budget that clarifies the state gambling law to allow the lottery to include slots-like video lottery terminals.

David Zanotti, president of the anti-gambling Ohio Roundtable, said his group will follow through with threats to sue.

“Last time I checked, he was elected governor, not king,” Zanotti said. “It’ll be interesting if the governor has the courage to take this stand in court and explain to the people of Ohio how in 1973 their vote (in favor of the Ohio Lottery) authorized casino-style gambling in racetracks in this state. I’m anxious to hear his testimony in court.”

House Speaker Armond Budish, a Beachwood Democrat, announced Friday afternoon that the compromise had been reached among the Democrat-led House, Republican-led Senate and Strickland.

The three had been locked in an impasse since the governor announced June 19 that he had changed his stance on lottery-run slots and would rely on them to help balance the budget.

Budish stressed that the deal will allow Ohio to balance its budget, which has suffered a series of revenue blows as it has moved through the Legislature this spring.

“The national economic downturn has impacted state budgets all across the country. Ohio faced similar challenges, but we were able to provide a balanced budget that reduces spending, shrinks the size of government, protects vital services for our most vulnerable citizens, and prioritizes job creation to help move Ohio forward,” Budish said in a statement.

State Sen. Capri Cafaro of Liberty, D-32nd said she was pleased that her conversations with Strickland and and Senate President Bill Harris were fruitful. She said the limited slots gambling is “ a much better alternative than raising taxes at a time when so many Ohio families are struggling to pay their bills.”

Strickland said in a statement Friday that the budget “rightly prioritizes education as the foundation of Ohio’s economic revival, reduces state government spending while minimizing the impact on critical health and safety services, and does not raise taxes on Ohioans or Ohio businesses struggling through this recession.”

HOW DEAL EVOLVED

GOVERNOR’S PROPOSAL

2,500 video lottery terminals at Ohio’s seven horse tracks.

Authorized by act of Legislature.

Allow machine vendors refunds if casino gambling is legalized by voters this fall.

SENATE PROPOSAL

Unspecified number of terminals made available to highest bidder.

Authorized by voters.

Machines could be at tracks or other locations.

THE COMPROMISE

2,500 terminals at horse tracks.

Authorized by combination of governor’s executive order, legislative language.

Removes provision allowing vendor refunds if fall casino issue passes.

Source: AP Research