Lawmakers Limited With Casino Money

Monday,  November 23, 2009 3:30 PM

Updated: Tuesday,  November 24, 2009 7:30 AM

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio's new casinos are expected to bring the state $50 million apiece in licensing fees.

Now, the states largest labor organization is making sure those funds go to job creation.

Lawmakers are debating ways to fix an $850 million budget shortfall, and last week, some Republicans proposed using the $200 million from casinos to help fill the hole.

Now the AFL-CIO is making it is clear to all lawmakers that they expect casino fee money to go toward job creation programs.

"This is for job creation, not to mention the fact that we don't want to get mired down in litigation.  And if the general assembly is going to be using Issue 3 constitutional funds that come from a licensing fee in another way, we could be mired in a courtroom situation," said Tim Burga, Ohio AFL-CIO.

Gov. Ted Strickland's spokeswoman told ONN's Jim Heath Monday that the governor will commit to using the casino fees for job programs.

Labor groups say they will sue if those fees are used for anything else.

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