Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Cincinnati and Columbus are on opposite sides when it comes to a ballot
initiative that would permit gambling in Ohio. Elected officials and
business leaders in Cincinnati said Monday they support a ballot initiative
to permit gambling in Ohio, a sharp contrast to the Columbus Chamber and
Columbus Partnership's opposition of Issue 3. If voters approve the
amendment, it would allow for as many as 3,500 slot machines to be installed
at each of Ohio's seven racetracks, including Scioto Downs and Beulah Park
in Central Ohio, and two casino-type gaming parlors in Cleveland. A portion
of the gambling revenue would be used to fund college tuition grants. The
Greater Cincinnati Economic Development Fund, comprising civic and business
leaders, came out in support of the proposed amendment to the Ohio
Constitution, saying it would provide more funds for college scholarships
than the state legislature would be able to spend. "Any money that this
generates will put us ahead of the game compared to where we will be without
it," State Rep. Bill Seitz, R- Cincinnati. The initiative is also backed by
the Ohio Learn and Earn Committee, whose proponents say 30 percent of the
gross revenue from gambling revenue would go toward college scholarships.
Learn and Earn is forecasting the slot machines would bring in $2.84 billion
a year, generating $852.7 million a year for the tuition grants, which could
be used at any Ohio college or university. Those opposing the initiative,
including the Columbus Partnership, a Central Ohio business coalition of top
executives from some of the region's largest companies, and the Columbus
Chamber, say amending the state constitution to allow gambling at nine
specific sites would ordain those businesses as winners in the economy and
is not good public policy.