Voinovich fiery in opposing plan

COLUMBUS (AP) — U.S. Sen. George Voinovich used biblical verse Thursday to blast gambling proponents, including Ohio Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland, who is an ordained minister.

Voinovich, the former Republican governor, joined forces with the Ohio Roundtable and Methodist churches to announce a lawsuit they filed Thursday at the Ohio Supreme Court against Strickland’s plan to place video-lottery terminals at Ohio racetracks.

The retiring senator said he will also help opponents defeat a ballot issue this fall proposing casinos in Ohio’s four largest cities: Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo.

Voinovich, who has been an active opponent of expanded gambling for decades, quoted the Lord’s Prayer — “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” — at a news conference announcing the suit.

“I happen to believe that because we have been successful on four occasions in defeating gambling that we have made possible avoiding getting involved with gambling in the state,” he said. “Anybody who understand the impact that that’s had on families, like I do, understand what that does. Not only does it affect their temporal situation, it also affects their eternal happiness.”

Had he been governor this year, Voinovich said, “I would have raised taxes.” He recalled taking that path in 1992.

“It would have been more forthright to do it,” he said. “Now that’s just my opinion. I respect the Legislature. I’m not sitting there today, but that’s what we did at the time.”

Voinovich blasted Strickland for reversing the anti-gambling stance he took in 2006, when a different racetrack slots issue was defeated at the ballot.

He called making profits by promoting gambling “the worst kind of greed,” quoting a favorite passage from Isaiah.

“I just hope the Holy Spirit enlightens the people of Ohio as they have in the past,” he said.