Supreme Court says slots at racetracks subject to referendum

A patron plays a slot machine at the Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Altoona, Iowa.

[Big Ed]

It's what should have been done anyway. Too bad the court had to intercede. Besides HOW does the State know how much these video terminal will generate anyway? With unemployment in Ohio and the region what it is who has any money to throw away?

[John]

This is what happens when you balance your budget with gimmicks and tricks. What a joke our leaders are.

[Jeff]

Good for the Ohio Supreme Court!

Strickland still did not lose on this issue, people can still vote them in.

And it will not be the government telling us whether we can gamble or not, it will be my fellow citizens.

Democracy won this round. We need more situations where the people are heard in Ohio and in the USA, preferably without going to the high court to force it.

For, by and of the people.

[Another Jim]

So what gets cut this time to make up for the lack of Slot revenue? We probably shouldn't have relied on this to balance the budget, but then again, I am just a regular guy and not an Uber-Smart Politician.

[Chris]

Way to go people....now everyone will bitch because of job loss due to budget cuts. Just let the casinos in!

[Im Joe the Plumber]

The Supremes got it right, Ted and Co. clearly wrong to believe he has unilateral authority to this.

[Jeff]

Chris wrote:

Way to go people....now everyone will **** because of job loss due to budget cuts. Just let the casinos in!

No problem letting the casinos in. Just give me 50.1% of the vote.

Otherwise, your opinion would be in the minority.

[tsterni]

This is a waste of tax payers money to put this on the ballot. The tracks will fund ads saying the republicans will just raise your taxes or cut more needed services for the poor, medicaid nursing homes, social services, food banks charter schools and handy caped children.

[tsterni]

Remember 7 Republicans run this Court, Be careful what you wish for!

[Where do I sign]

WOW!!! Thank you Supreme Court. They just proved Jennifer Brunner wrong again. She blocked LetOhioVote.org from obtaining signatures to put it on the ballot back in July. How many times do Ohioans have to pay for her lack of understanding or appreciation for the law? The Ohio Constitution is above all else here. I could care less if someone gambles as long as they do NOT accept one single penny in any government assistance of any kind. I do have a problem with Ted Strickland ignoring the peoples' prior voting records on this topic, and using gambling to try to balance the state budget. Cordray was a lame duck on this issue. He should have stopped Strickland. The Ohio Supreme Court made a sound decision. Believe me, I'm signing the petition as soon as it's available to get this on the ballot. These criminals running this state has to be stopped and I'm glad the court agreed.

[Eugene_C]

OOPS!

[Boxxy]

"potentially creating a nearly $1 billion hole in the state budget."

You mean potentially creating an opportunity for the people of Ohio to engage in democratic process, right? That's what you meant, Dispatch, right?

[Atty in Delaware County]

Just got finished reading the Supreme Court's opinion. It is well-reasoned and relies on long-standing law of Ohio. It makes no policy judgments about gambling, Governor Strickland, or the budget, it just rules, plain and simple, that because the VLT provision does not fall into any of the exceptions to referendum that are listed in the Constitution, it must be subject to the people's power of referendum. Therefore, it is not saying that the VLT's can't ultimately go forward. The court is merely saying that if enough signatures are collected to put the issue to a vote of Ohio's citizens, then the Sec'y of State must process the signatures and place the issue on the ballot for all Ohioans to vote on. So it's in the people's hands now, not just a small group of politicians in Columbus. It's pretty hard to argue that power in the hands of the people is a bad thing. . .

[Concerned]

What is the big deal about gambling? If you don't like it, don't do it. Teach your children that it is wrong and illegal until you are a certain age. It would be interesting to see how much gaming revenue leaves Ohio and goes to our bordering states.

What is the difference between slots and the lottery and even church bingo. All forms of gambling. Why stop there lets outlaw all of the vices that bring in big tax dollars like smoking and alcohol.

[horsehead]

It seems we now have a supreme court bought and paid for by Penn Gaming. What part of the budget don't they understand? This money wasn't going to go into a savings account for use later. The money was earmarked for 2009 and 2010 budget years. Thats okay all you folks that think it is a good idea go to Argosy and thank them, while there drop a few hundred in the slots to help them collect the signatures. The State of Indiana could use the money they have a few discolored sidewalks they want to do over and a few more children who might want a better education. Not in Ohio. Morons.

[Molly Maguire]

It is always gratifying to see the Rule of Law and the democratic process upheld. The thinking people of this state are fed up with the spineless hypocrite sitting in the governor's mansion. The same goes for our weak-kneed legislators who place their own re-election above the rights and the will of the people.

Now if only we could get some honesty in Washington for a change ....

[Tom]

I hope those racetrack owners haven't unloaded all those Triple Diamond Fill My Pockets with Yer Money slot machines from the truck yet!

[DrC]

Even though I agree that it should go to a vote, the only reason the OSC made this decision was to put a thumb in the eye of Strickland.

[go for it]

People of Ohio really need to step back and look at what's happening here. I'm all for the constitution being adhered to, but I hope everyone understands what could happen to Ohio in the process. It seems pretty clear that the Issue 3 casino backers are behind this lawsuit. They're obviously trying to get rid of Strickland's slot machines that will pay a 50% tax rate, so they can try to get their casinos approved at a 33% tax rate. The difference is about $400 million a year in taxes. I'm sure the Issue 3 backers will do anything in their power to see that happen. How else can you make an extra $400 million a year in this economy. The sad part is that if Strickland's slots go away, then we have to start talking about raising taxes or cutting a lot of employees and programs out of the state budget. Should we really be making that decision so two casino operators can make a lot more money? I'm disgusted by the whole thing. I hope they don't get away with it.

[Bob]

Legalize pot and tax the b-jesus out of it.