Did you hear the one about the governor who wants to open a t-shirt shop in Florida instead of running for a second term? Well, maybe if the 527 media had asked the governor a few serious questions about his actual plan to Turn Around Ohio instead of the usual antics to depress Republican voters, we might have actually learned ahead of time that Governor Strickland has no plan. His latest scheme involved using electronic bingo games called Keno to plug budget deficits. One problem with the plan: Ohioans have voted down gambling time and again.The Cincinnati Enquirer picks up the story...
The Ohio Lottery Commission was hoping the state Controlling Board on Monday would approve nearly $18 million for equipment to operate keno, a video lottery game resembling bingo, at various locations such as taverns and restaurants.Also missing from all of this fantastic 527 media coverage of these events is Ohio's Eliot Spitzer: Marc Dann. You see, Marc Dann had this great idea to bust everybody in the state who had an electronic gaming machine. At the time, everybody thought this was a little odd seeing as all of the gaming lobbyist types had been donating to Democrats...but Ohio Democrats had a plan after all! By getting rid of the machines that were making money for businesses in the state, then Gov. T-Shirt could propose this ridiculous idea and everybody would be happy again.
Strickland wanted the money approved quickly so the games could begin bringing in revenue to patch education department cuts following the projection of a statewide budget deficit.
But Republican lawmakers who are the majority on the board said they would oppose the Democratic governor's request. The four lawmakers, two from the House and two from the Senate, want public hearings on the proposal before voting on it.
They believe the measure should also be approved by a legislative panel that oversees changes to agency rules.
Uhh...not so much...
If this is Turning Around Ohio, I think we're better off the direction we were headed...and THAT is saying a lot...
UPDATE: More details and comments from the Columbus Dispatch story:
"You can't gamble your way to prosperity," said state Sen. Joy Padgett, R-Coshocton, a member of the Controlling Board. "People who can least afford it will be spending money on it. For a lot of people, hope can become extremely expensive."But here is the key point that most 527 media outlets are forgetting to include in their reporting:
Sen. John A. Carey Jr., a Wellston Republican and board member, said he, too, opposes Ohio's expansion into Keno.
"We just had voters vote down slot machines, and they have consistently," he said. "I just don't think an expansion of gambling is something the public wants and I don't think it's good fiscal policy."
Also yesterday, state Sen. Ron Amstutz, R-Wooster, announced that he will introduce legislation to ban Keno and similar games. Amstutz did not reveal details of his proposal.
Many lawmakers, including several who sit on the Controlling Board, say Keno resembles casino-style games that Ohio voters have rejected three times since 1990.Bravo to the Dispatch for doing so...
