Lawmakers need to cut more than $3 billion from the two-year operating budget.

If a deal is not reached before July 1, legislators will have to pass a temporary budget. Some agencies worry that they will not be able to make payroll if that happens, 10TV's Brittany Westbrook reported.

On Saturday, Senate republicans rejected a plan by Gov. Ted Strickland to put slots at Ohio's horse tracks.

"I cannot get past the fact that the voters of Ohio have spoken on expanded gambling time and time again," said Senate President Bill Harris. "Asking the General Assembly to circumvent their will when there has been no formal public debate is unreasonable."

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.

On Friday, the group Campaign to Protect Ohio's Future released numbers on the job loss that would come with cuts to services for senior citizens, children and the mentally ill, Westbrook reported. According to the group, nearly 36,000 jobs would be lost.

Libraries across the state continued protesting proposed cuts to the state library fund. Nearly 40,000 people joined a Facebook campaign against the slashing of funding by 50 percent.

"I think the libraries have overreacted and in some cases have purposely misled the public with the information they are putting out," Strickland said.

Regardless, the governor said he believes the next move is up to the Senate.

"If Sen. Harris and his republican colleagues in the Senate don't want to accept my plan they have a responsibility to bring forth their ideas," Strickland said.

The governor told 10TV News that he has not received any of those ideas yet.

Stay with 10TV News and 10TV.com for continuing coverage.

Previous Stories:

June 27, 2009: Senate Rejects Plan For Slot Machines
June 24, 2009: You Won't Have A Say About Slot Machines

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