"We are trying to get a plan that focuses not only on closing the short term budget hole, but putting us on a glide path to great fiscal responsibility," said State Senator Bill Seitz.

Seitz accused Strickland and the House Democratic leadership of playing partisan politics.

"If the governor and his folks refuse to compromise, then I guess the governor will have no choice but to live within the diminished revenues available to him," said Seitz.

State Senator Tim Grendell said the whole budget issue could soon be solved.

"I predict on December 19th, VLT's at the racetracks will be back on the table, and be allowed under House Bill 1.  At that time the $850 million hole disappears and becomes a $450 million hole that we can solve," Grendell told ONN's Jim Heath.

Strickland originally wanted VLT's at Ohio's seven racetracks.

The Supreme Court ruled later that groups like "Let Ohio Vote" have until December 18th to collect 241,365 valid signatures to put slots on the ballot.

The group would not confirm exactly how many signatures they have, although spokesman David Hanson said they were "on track."

Grendell said the group won't make it.

"So we have $200 million coming from casino licenses, and another $200 to $280 million coming from the tracks for VLT's, and the hole is gone."

Strickland spokeswoman Amanda Hurst responded that the constitutional questions regarding VLT's have not been answered. "That would prohibit VLT's from being used in this budget," she said.

Meanwhile even some church groups seem resigned to the fact that some form of gambling money will be used to solve the budget problem.

"There are a lot of Ohioans still that aren't settled with the issues of casinos, but the reality is they are here," said Christopher Long with the Ohio Christian Alliance.

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