Republican leaders in the Ohio Senate told Gov. Ted Strickland on Saturday that they would not support his plan to put slot machines at Ohio race tracks.
Strickland announced the plan to offset a $3.2 billion budget deficit earlier this month.
Republican Senate President Bill Harris told Strickland the news just before the Democratic State Dinner, 10TV's John Fortney reported.
"He told me he would not support the framework with the slots language in there," Strickland said.
The governor said he believes putting slots at Ohio's seven horse tracks would generate $933 million and save the state from nearly $1 billion in budget cuts.
"Why not just go ahead and do an executive order and put the slots in under the lottery?" Fortney asked.
"I think we can't, because in order for these investors to invest multiple millions of dollars they need the security that would come from legislative approval," Strickland said.
While the budget is about money, it is also about politics. 2010 is a big election year in Ohio, with all of the statewide offices up for reelection, including the governor. There are many insiders who believe that republicans don't have to do anything -- they want the risk, especially on the slots, to lie with the governor, Fortney reported.
"Do you think at all republicans are trying to get you to stick your political neck out when it comes to the slots?" Fortney asked.
"I've stuck my neck out," Strickland said. "I've told Sen. Harris that I own this issue. I've already said to the public that this is the pathway forward as I see it and I did that because I didn't want to cut more than we've already cut."
Strickland said now that he has put out his plan, he expects Senate republicans to do the same.
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June 24, 2009: You Won't Have A Say About Slot Machines
