Ohio Slot Machines Referendum (2010)
From Ballotpedia
Contents |
The Ohio Slot Machines Referendum may be on the 2010 ballot after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing the measure on the ballot.[1] Initially the referendum was rejected by Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner's office. The veto referendum called for placing Gov. Ted Strickland's plan for video slot machines on the 2010 ballot The first 3,000 signatures had been gathered prior to the rejection.[2] The governor's plan includes a total of 2,500 video slot machines at 7 race tracks. However, the plan which was added to the state budget is exempted from the referendum process.[3]
During the week of October 6, 2009, the state gave the go-ahead for the group to start collecting signatures for the approved petition. The Attorney General, Richard Cordray, approved the petition language, which now gives the group 90 days to collect the required 241,365 signatures to place the question on the November ballot. The group must submit the petition no later than January 3, 2010.[4]
Lawsuit
On July 20, 2009, the group LetOhioVote.org filed a lawsuit in the Ohio Supreme Court to allow a veto referendum in an effort to block the slots plan from going into effect.[2] LetOhioVote.org won their lawsuit. The Ohio Supreme Court voted 6-1 to allow the veto referendum petition.[5]
Slot machine plan on hold
The state's plan to place a total of 2,500 video slot machines at 7 race tracks has been placed on hold. The announcement comes shortly after Gov. Ted Strickland's approval of suspending tax cuts in an attempt to balance the state budget. The suspended tax cuts are estimated to generate $844 million.[6]
Gov. seeks clarification on authority
On September 30th, 2009, Gov. Strickland announced his plans to put the Slot Machines plan on hold. Strickland is waiting for clarification from The Ohio Supreme Court as to whether he has executive powers to overrule the voters. If he is given those powers, he plans to move ahead with the slot machines plan. [7]
See also
Additional reading
References
- ↑ Marietta Register,"Supreme Court ruling throws state budget back into the wind," September 30, 2009
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Columbus Dispatch,"Brunner's office rules out slots vote," July 24, 2009
- ↑ The Dayton Business Journal,"Deal reached on Ohio state budget," July 10, 2009
- ↑ Columbus Business First, "Clock begins ticking for slots referendum backers", October 6, 2009
- ↑ Middletown Journal,"Ohio Supreme Court allows vote on racetrack slots," September 22, 2009
- ↑ The News Leader, "Budget shift puts casino plans on hold," October 7, 2009
- ↑ The News Leader, Jeff Saunders and Eric Marotta, "Budget shift puts casino plans on hold" October 7, 2009
