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After taking quite a few anti-gambling stances on past issues, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has recently announced that maybe some sort of new gambling proposal could actually help out the budget deficit in Ohio.
Combined with the recent news that certain casino lobbying groups are already making plans to have a proposal on the 2009 ballot, does this mean that Ohio could see a shift in gambling developments before the end of the year?
I’m not sure how encouraging Ohioans to waste more of their money would boost our economy. And the public apetite for keno has not been overwhelming. I don’t see how this could help the core problem.
This smells of desperation. After all the times Strickland was against gambling issues, now he is in favor of it?
Don’t know if I would be able to stick by my values if I had to figure out a solution to a projected $7 billion budget deficit though.
Boooo!
The only reason Strickland & other elected officials have been against casino gambling is because they fear it will eat into existing government-sponsored gambling. You know, like:
The Lotto, Mega Millions, The Kicker, Pick 3, Pick 4, Ten-Oh, Rolling Cash 5, the 9 different $10-20 scratch-offs, the 17 different $5 scratch-offs, the 14 different $2-3 scratch-offs, the 15 different $1 scratch-offs & Keno.
(And the reason Keno has been a relative bust is because everyone know Keno is l-a-m-e).
Beyond that, you also have the NE Ohio Catholics lobbying against any casino gambling because they know what it will do to their weekly bingo nights & yearly festivals. Not, obviously, because they’re opposed to gambling.
Required reading on this issue – Jill Miller Zimon.
http://www.writeslikeshetalks.com/2009/01/09/the-seduction-of-governor-ted-strickland/
I found a new blog to add to my feed.