Lepore-Hagan takes governor to task over racino payment

AUSTINTOWN

State Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan of Youngstown, D-58th, had strong comments for Gov. John Kasich and the lack of discussion on the annual $500,000 racino payment issue Monday.

“As of today, more than 950 days after he signed House Bill 386, he has utterly failed to abide by the law he not only signed twice, but helped write,” she said in a news release.

House Bill 386 is the original racino bill that paved the way for the seven facilities in Ohio and was signed by Republican Kasich in June 2012. The next year, House Bill 59 was signed to clarify the two, earlier $1 million payments for Austintown and Dayton as well as to clarify other language.

“I am eager to work with and support the governor whether he decides to finally abide by the law and secure the payments via negotiations with the track owners or decides to appropriate the funds via legislation,” she said.

Rob Nichols, spokesperson for the governor’s office, said he had seen Lepore-Hagan’s comments Monday afternoon.

“If the representative has a plan that meets the criteria identified in the governor’s veto message, she should immediately approach the administration with those details. But to date, all we’ve seen is public records requests and this press release,” he said.

Read more about the controversy in Tuesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.