Governor, legislators agree on budget terms

Ten days late, Gov. Ted Strickland and legislative leaders today agreed to a compromise budget to break a stalemate in part by adding electronic slot machines at Ohio's seven horse racetracks.

[gary]

its about time ohio!!!!!!!!

[SomethingsHappen ing]

What about the prisons????????? Why PAY for the libraries and NOT protect us from the crimials????

[Topper]

Why should we ever vote..........
We voted against expanded gambling 4 times.
But big money overturned all for votes........
When this fails.......Who pays ????

[Grandview Heights area]

I'm glad they were able to strike a compromise. After thinking about it some more, about the gambling...I guess the people who gamble already will gamble, and people who don't probably won't go to the tracks anyways. But it still can be such a problem for some.

[Doug- Ohio]

("We have reached a final agreement today on a budget that is not only balanced, but invests in education without raising taxes on Ohioans," Gov. Ted Strickland said.)
**********Gov.Strickland, When you say that gambling dollars help the schools, THAT IS A LIE.
Looks like one term and OUT, TED.

[Bob Williams]

Why is the state giving the race track syndicate huge profits from the slots? They payed big buck to promote this ballot issue. I wonder who
they have payed this time?

[Lancaster Jeff]

Now if the race track owners put their best efforts forward as our leaders have this state can really make a come back. Those who are scared by the word "gambling" , don't panic. It's only a game no different than the scratch off tickets we play today. Is there any other state in this country that has 7 horse tracks? This will bring life to a seriously deprived industry in this state. I look forward to the day when people actually care about the OHIO DERBY. You will now begin to see those rural horse farms with empty stalls come back to life. Jobs will be created at the tracks and the supporting industries. In my opinion it's a great day for OHIO and CHEERS to Governor Strickland for having the stones to get it done.

[Steve]

Lancaster Jeff wrote:

Now if the race track owners put their best efforts forward as our leaders have this state can really make a come back. Those who are scared by the word "gambling" , don't panic. It's only a game no different than the scratch off tickets we play today. Is there any other state in this country that has 7 horse tracks? This will bring life to a seriously deprived industry in this state. I look forward to the day when people actually care about the OHIO DERBY. You will now begin to see those rural horse farms with empty stalls come back to life. Jobs will be created at the tracks and the supporting industries. In my opinion it's a great day for OHIO and CHEERS to Governor Strickland for having the stones to get it done.

AMEN Jeff!!! This is a great day for the horse industry in Ohio and the people of Ohio!

[Dell 2000]

Doug- Ohio wrote:

("We have reached a final agreement today on a budget that is not only balanced, but invests in education without raising taxes on Ohioans," Gov. Ted Strickland said.)
**********Gov.Strickland, When you say that gambling dollars help the schools, THAT IS A LIE.
Looks like one term and OUT, TED.

So Doug, you would have wanted the governor to raise YOUR taxes instead??? I think not, you're just hater. I hate to break it to you but the Governor will be a two term governor. People will see what a complete JOKE Kaschich is once they read about his connection to Lehman Bros. DOUG - do yourself a favor and get off the talk radio ---- it's rotting your brain!!!

[Debbie]

Does anyone really believe that anyone except the track owners are going to make money off this deal?

How long did it take for riders/drivers to actually get paid a pittance even if they didn't place in the money? Just because someone goes to the track to play the slots - and meanwhile pay parking fees to the owners, buy concessions from the owners and contribute to the owners percentage of sales - does not mean they will place a bet on the horses and increase the purses.

I hope the backers of the ballot initiative don't back down and I get a chance to vote on a gambling initiative that makes sense.

I sympathize with those who are in the horse industry, but this bailout stinks for Ohio.

[Grove City J]

I hear over and over that Ohioan's voted down gaming in Ohio. The proposals to change the constitution should never be passed. All along, the Ohio Lottery should be the ones that regulate all lottery type gaming in this state as does WV operate the WV casinos. That way, income is kept within Ohio and regulated. This should have been done years ago. Ohioans are not against gambling; they're against rigged amendments that make no sense.
Once the rules and regulations are in place, I can see the lottery being able to expand VLTs to those locations that want them and can afford the licensing. WV has slots and all you have to do is purchase a license and install them but the cost doesn't allow machines everywhere. Besides, do you want to play slots where there's 4 machines verses 1000? Also, Ohio does not allow smoking whereas neighboring Casinos do. Something to ponder when we talk about Casinos here in this state.

[Skeptical Observer]

I dont like this but Strickland had no good options.

[TimH]

The Ohio Democratic Party should distance themselves from Gov. $trickland NOW and even ask him to resign. There is NO WAY he will ever be re-elected.

[Topper]

Debbie wrote:

Does anyone really believe that anyone except the track owners are going to make money off this deal?
How long did it take for riders/drivers to actually get paid a pittance even if they didn't place in the money? Just because someone goes to the track to play the slots - and meanwhile pay parking fees to the owners, buy concessions from the owners and contribute to the owners percentage of sales - does not mean they will place a bet on the horses and increase the purses.
I hope the backers of the ballot initiative don't back down and I get a chance to vote on a gambling initiative that makes sense.
I sympathize with those who are in the horse industry, but this bailout stinks for Ohio.

if slots are really such a godsend......why limit them to the racetracks????
Put them at all lottery locations..........

We'll never know the $$$$$$ that brought this sneaky deal about

[Sonny]

Thank You Ted, you have the votes of my entire family. MY son has been out of work for a year. Hopefully he will be applying at Northfield and Thisaldowns.
Its bitter sweet for me, as a friend of mine took those drives to Mountaineer in WVa. for so many years but wont be able to enjoy a local casino. He was Irish, passed away and was burried on St. Patricks day.

[Sonny]

Thistledown racetrack, svs

[Lancaster Jeff]

All OHIO HORSEMAN NOW NEED TO CONTACT THEIR STATE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES BEFORE 10AM MONDAY MORNING VIA ANY MEANS AT THEIR DISPOSAL. ASK THEM TO INCLUDE HORSEMAN IN THE SUPPORTING LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE TO RECEIVE A FAIR SHARE TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH OUR SURROUNDING STATES CREATING A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. RACETRACK VLT LEGISLATION MUST INCLUDE SUPPORT FOR OHIO HORSEMAN COMPARABLE TO HORSEMAN IN SURROUNDING STATES WHICH HAVE PASSED SIMILAR LEGISLATION. THE HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE WILL BEGIN HEARINGS ON THIS LEGISLATION NEXT WEEK.

[retired]

I guess this is good, although I want to see budget details. As to Strickland's re-election prospects, it is much too early to know. Who will be his opponent?

[Crystal]

I do not gamble. I feel this will be the only way Ohio will be able to compete with surrounding states, sorry Kentucky. Our money leaves this state by the minute in casinos in other states. The only reason I supported Ted Strickland initially was to bring in gambling. It's about time it gets done. I'm not a fan of the lottery running it, but it's better than nothing. The Ohio Roundtable needs to wake up and join the rest of the world.

[Shasta McNasta]

I'm sure they were able to pull together a few million in this budget for Fred Williams. You know, in case his Franklin county gig falls through. Poor guy. Wrong place. Wrong time.