At the end of last year’s legislative session, the Ohio Senate had approved Senate Joint Resolution 8 (proposed Constitutional language) and Senate Bill 99 (statutory details to implement the gambling mandate), but the action stalled in the Ohio House.  This time an amended version of SJR 8 was brought to the House floor for consideration.  It was the sponsor’s intent to get agreement on the ballot language for the Constitutional amendment (SJR8) and hash out the working details in SB99 later, possibly after the elections.

Two votes were taken after 1 am on May 27, 2004.  The first was a motion to approve changes to the Senate passed version of SJR8.  A simple majority was needed and achieved (57-40).  The second motion to adopt the amended SJR8 required a 3/5 majority due to the fact that it would place on the ballot an amendment to the Ohio Constitution.  The measure fell 3 votes short of the 60 votes needed.  It failed 57-40.

If the language had been approved, voters would have been asked – again – to expand statewide gambling using highly addictive video lottery terminals – more than 15,000 statewide.  The net (leftover) proceeds would have been divided between college scholarships, additional funds for schools, and early childhood education.  Representative Seitz’s began the floor discussion with the top 10 reasons to support expanded gambling. His number one reason was to give voters a chance to “save Ohio jobs.”  He also told his colleagues, “If you don’t like this plan, come up with another to solve our budget problems!”  Fortunately 40 members of the Ohio House exercised common sense in the middle of the night and defeated the resolution.  These members need to be commended for their leadership in the face of tremendous negative pressure.

Vote: Motion to Amend SJR8
May 27, 2004 (1:25 a.m.)
Passed, 58-38

Yea:  Allen, Aslanides, Barrett, Blasdel, Book, Brinkman, Callender, Carano, Carmichael, Cates, Chandler, Clancy, Collier, Combs, Daniels, DeWine, Distel, Driehaus, D.Evans, Faber, Flowers, Gibbs, Hartnett, Harwood, Hoops, Husted, Kearns, Kilbane, Martin, Miller, Niehaus, Olman, Otterman, S. Patton, T. Patton, Peterson, Raga, Raussen, Redfern, Reinhard, Schmidt, Schneider, Seaver, Seitz, Setzer, Sferra, G.Smith, D. Stewart, J. Stewart, Trakas, Walcher, Webster, Widener, Willamowski, Wilson, Wolpert, Yates, Householder

Nay:  Beatty, Boccieri, Brown, Buehrer, Calvert, Core, DeBose, DeGetter, Domenick, C. Evans, Fessler, Gilb, Grendell, Hagan, Hollister, Jerse, Key, Koziura, Latta, Mason, McGregor, Oelslager, Perry, Price, Reidelbach, Schaffer, Schlichter, Skindell, S. Smith, Strahorn, Sykes, Taylor, Uvjagi, Wagner, White, Widowfield, Woodard, Young

Not Voting:  Cirelli, Hughes, Slaby

Vote: Motion to Adopt SJR8
May 27, 2004 (1:40 a.m.)
Failed, 57-40  (60 vote majority was needed)

Yea:  Allen, Aslanides, Barrett, Blasdel, Book, Brinkman, Callender, Carano, Carmichael, Cates, Chandler, Clancy, Collier, Combs, Daniels, Distel, Driehaus, D.Evans, Faber, Flowers, Gibbs, Hartnett, Harwood, Hollister, Hoops, Husted, Kearns, Kilbane, Martin, Miller, Niehaus, Olman, Otterman, T. Patton, Peterson, Raga, Raussen, Redfern, Reinhard, Schmidt, Schneider, Seaver, Seitz, Setzer, Sferra, G.Smith, D. Stewart, J. Stewart, Trakas, Walcher, Webster, Widener, Willamowski, Wilson, Wolpert, Yates, Householder

Nay:  Beatty, Boccieri, Brown, Buehrer, Calvert, Core, DeBose, DeGetter, DeWine, Domenick, C. Evans, Fessler, Gilb, Grendell, Hagan, Jerse, Key, Koziura, Latta, Mason, McGregor, Oelslager, S. Patton, Perry, Price, Reidelbach, Schaffer, Schlichter, Skindell, Slaby, S. Smith, Strahorn, Sykes, Taylor, Uvjagi, Wagner, White, Widowfield, Woodard, Young

Not Voting:  Cirelli, Hughes

NOW is the time to act. Tell your State Representative that you oppose ANY gambling expansion in Ohio.