Strickland Slots Challenge

Two Republican state representatives and the Ohio Christian Alliance have filed a lawsuit with the Ohio Supreme Court challenging Gov. Ted Strickland’s executive order allowing slot machines at race tracks.

The high court heard arguments Sept. 2 on another challenge to the measure, which would install 17,500 slot machines at the state’s seven horse-race tracks. An anti-gambling group has asked the court to allow Ohioans to vote on the plan.

“This governor and the House majority have sidestepped their legislative responsibility by relying on executive orders,” Rep. Seth Morgan, R-Huber Heights, said in a statement released yesterday. Morgan joined with Rep. John Adams, R-Sidney, to file the lawsuit.

“They have subverted the will of the Ohio people, ignored the Ohio Constitution, and have given the people of Ohio little recourse other than filing legal challenges as a chance to stop this expansion to Ohio gambling,” Morgan said.

Strickland said the measure would raise $933 million in education funding, and that a vote on the proposal would delay new revenue badly needed in the current fiscal period.

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