Saturday, October 22, 2011
COLUMBUS
Gov. John Kasich and the Republicans who control the Statehouse have had their hands full dealing with challenges to law changes and policies they’ve attempted to implement since taking office in January.
They’ve faced lawsuits over their new JobsOhio nonprofit that is poised to take control of the state’s economic development programs.
Last week, Democratic lawmakers filed an ethics complaint against the man Kasich hand-picked to lead that effort.
Voters will decide next month whether Senate Bill 5 stays on the books.
They’ll probably decide next year whether GOP-backed election law changes get the boot.
And there’s a new threat by the Ohio Democratic Party to launch a similar referendum effort against Republican-drawn congressional lines, leaving a whole slew of questions unanswered about what will happen during next year’s elections.
To date, those and other challenges have been led by Democrats.
Slot machines
Last week, the conservative American Policy Roundtable jumped into the fray, challenging the governor’s agreement with casino owners that is supposed to lead to horse racing tracks offering lottery commission-controlled electronic slot machines on their premises.
“This is about much more than gambling, this is a lot bigger than gambling,” said Rob Walgate, vice president of the American Policy Roundtable.
“This is about the rule of law. This is about a governor exceeding his authority ... and reaching outside of the scope and the framework of the constitution and constitutional amendments that were passed by voters of the state of Ohio.”
The group filed suit in a Columbus-area court Friday, alleging that the state does not have the authority to allow video lottery terminals at horse racing tracks.
To accomplish that, voters would have to OK changes to the original constitutional amendment authorizing the creation of the state lottery.
The Roundtable said it’s done its homework, and the governor and lawmakers don’t have the authority to do what they’re trying to do with video slots at the tracks.
“We have reviewed probably in excess of 5,000 pages of documentation,” said Melanie Elsey, legislative director of American Policy Roundtable. She added, “The lottery could conduct VLTs if and only if it’s taken back to the ballot and the voters have a say to approve that.”
The legal action could stall efforts by the owner of racetracks in Toledo and Columbus to relocate those facilities to sites near Youngstown and Dayton, respectively. The chairman of the Ohio Racing Commission said such a lawsuit would probably halt activity in that regard until some resolution is reached.
Governor’s defense
During a meeting with editors from Dix Newspapers earlier in the week, Kasich defended the deal he made with casinos and horse tracks.
He said VLTs and other provisions included in that agreement will lead to increased funding for schools.
And he appeared to be taking the legal challenges against his administration in stride.
“People can sue,” the governor said. “One thing I can tell you is there’s just a lot of suit going on everywhere we look. I mean, if you don’t win, you sue.”
Marc Kovac is The Vindicator’s Statehouse correspondent. Email him at mkovac@dixcom.com or on Twitter at OhioCapitalBlog.