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Ohio Roundtable Enters Fray Over Gambling Expansion
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| Columbus, Ohio The President of the
Ohio Roundtable today called for a “massive intervention” to help break the
spell legalized gambling holds over the Ohio General Assembly and the state budget
process. David Zanotti, President of the Ohio Roundtable announced plans to resist two
gambling measures in the Ohio General Assembly. The first calls for an expansion of the
Ohio Lottery to include Ohio in the multi-state powerball game. The second proposal would
permit video slot machines in Ohio’s seven racetracks. Zanotti stated, “Both these proposals are steps in the wrong direction. They are both based on the flawed economics of gambling. Since 1973 Ohioans have been sold the lie that gambling is a valid tool for state funding. Now our General Assembly is hooked on the idea. It is time for intervention, time to end the denial, time to admit the Lottery, slot machines, and all the rest are an economic scam. These ideas cannot keep pace with state spending and result only in addicting citizens to unproductive gambling habits and keeping our government in the business of creating gambling addicts." Zanotti was joined by ministers from around the state who represent a portion of the grassroots network that defeated casino gambling statewide in 1990 and 1996. Pastor Gary Frost from Youngstown, Pastor John Adams from Sandusky and Rev. John Edgar from the Ohio Methodist Conference also participated in the news conference. These three leaders pledged continued support on the part of millions of parishioners in opposition to gambling expansion. The Roundtable unveiled a strategy that entails a major citizen action. Ohioans opposed to gambling expansion are being asked to contact Governor Taft and House and Senate members to express their disapproval to Lottery expansion and racetrack casinos. Roundtable also detailed a four-part legal strategy to litigate against any gambling proposals that passed the legislature. “We’ve got more legal legs to stand on than a centipede” Zanotti commented. “After ten years of fighting this issue statewide our coalition is strong and our lawyers are ready to do whatever it takes in the General Assembly, in the Courts, or at the ballot box to win this debate.” The Ohio Roundtable is a state based non-partisan public policy organization founded in 1980. The Roundtable works with families, business leaders, educators, lawmakers, and clergy attempting to provide positive alternatives in public policy. David Zanotti has been President of both the Ohio Roundtable and Ohio Freedom Forum since 1986. He helped lead successful campaigns for term limits, campaign finance reform, and against casino gambling and a statewide sales tax increase. -- end --
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