10 TV: After years of opposition to the expansion of gambling, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has announced a plan for slots machines at seven horse racing tracks as a way to help balance the budget. Strickland, a Democrat, said Friday that the move would provide $765 million for the two-year budget that starts July 1.
"This has been a difficult choice for me but I believe it is a necessary one," Strickland said. "It is contrary to what I ever thought I would have to do. But still, after looking at all of the options presented to me and the legislature, I have concluded that this is the best option to meet our balanced budget obligation."
Lawmakers have struggled to fill a gap of roughly $3.2 billion in the spending plan. The slots proposal would not go before state voters, who have rejected gambling proposals four times in the past 20 years.
The governor also suggests cuts of $2.43 billion, sparing a plan to continue tuition freezes at state colleges and universities as well as investments in education. An Ohio Poll conducted in April found that six in 10 Ohio voters favor casino-style gambling.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment