Signatures Needed to Save Ohio Slot Machines

An Ohio slot machine proposal is in desperate need of 322,899 signatures.  The proposal, aimed at allowing slot machines to operate in Ohio race tracks, was denied by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.  The proposal must attain all 322,899 signatures in order to find its way onto the November ballot. 

The slot machine proposal is a part of the Learn and Earn Initiative.  The committee has until 90 days before the general election to collect all of their signatures.  The signatures must come from no less than 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties. 

“We feel very confident,” asserted David Hopcraft, a spokesperson for the group.  The committee intends to hire 3,500 people to seek out the signatures.   

The proposal would amend the Ohio state constitution.  All seven of the states racetracks would house slot machines.  In addition, two slot machine parlors would be established in Cleveland and another in Cincinnati.  Ohio’s current and future high school graduates will receive grants and scholarships funded by the slot machine revenues.  Student who take college-readiness programs, advanced academic courses, and “contribute to public life through voluntary civic activity” will all be eligible for grants. 

Jim Petro’s office received the slot machine amendment proposal from the Learn and Earn Committee back in March 24.  The attorney generals spokesperson, Kim Norris, said the proposal was initially rejected by the office do to the sub par language in the summary. 

Norris stated, “We look at the language; simply whether it, in fact, states truthfully what the amendment is proposing.”  Norris said the original proposal did not truthfully explain the Learn and Earn program. 

“I am of the opinion that the summary is not a fair and truthful statement of the amendment to be proposed.  I therefore cannot certify the summary,” wrote Petro in a letter to the committee.

Petro eventually approved a resubmitted draft of the proposal on May 10.  The apparent controversy over the amendment summary language regarded a passage that stated the proposed sites could maintain gambling operations 24 hours a day, at the discretion of the facility owners. 

According to Hopcraft, if the proposal is passed, slot machine revenues would break down as such:  30 percent of funds would support student grants and scholarships, counties, townships and municipalities will receive 8 percent for economic development, the tracks will receive 6 percent, and 1 percent would be dedicated to fighting gambling addiction.  The remaining 55 percent will be used to manage and purchase equipment for the tracks. 

Thanks to the year’s top political stories – illegal immigration, the governor’s race, and sky rocketing gas prices – the objection to the slots proposal by gambling opponents have been almost completely overshadowed.  The primary campaigns saw very few candidates speaking out against Ohio gambling.

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