Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner’s office rejected a petition with more than 3,000 signatures that attempted to place Gov. Ted Strickland’s plan for video slot machines on the 2010 ballot. According to the finalized state budget agreement the governor is expected to issue an executive order to authorize the video slot machines at Ohio racetracks. The plan includes a total of 2,500 video slot machines at 7 race tracks. However, the plan which was added to the state budget is exempted from the referendum process. The final state budget was signed July 17, 2009.
On July 20, the group LetOhioVote.org filed a lawsuit in the Ohio Supreme Court in an effort to block the slots plan from going into effect. “There is an argument to be made, and the Supreme Court will evaluate whether or not this is subject to a referendum,” said Carlo LoParo, spokesperson for the group.
Ballot initiatives for gambling were turned down in 1990, 1996, 2006 and in 2008.
In all of our politicians efforts to use vice to pay for government, this blogger sees a potential pro-citizen plan that would save taxpayers billions of dollars. Let Gov. Strickland, the high court, and the legislators pay ALL state government expenditures gambling dollars. Seeing that Ohio officials defy the will of Ohio citizens concerning gambling, then all citizen taxpayers and voters should not have to pay any taxes. See that Ohio public officials produce services for themselves and their special interests and not the voting public, let them do it all without the tax dollars of Ohio citizens.
Of course those citizens who like the ideas of their corrupt politicians could always donate their money.
Source: Ballotpedia