Strickland reverses position on slot machines - Business First of Columbus:

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His decision, announced Fridayt afternoon at a Statehousepressw conference, reverses his long-held opposition to slots and otheer forms of casino-style gambling as a statr revenue source. It also runs counter to the wishes of Ohio Theyrejected slot-machine or casinoo ballot issues on four occasions, including last “This has been a difficulgt choice,” Strickland said, “but I believe it is It is contrary to whatever I thought I wouldr have to do.” Coupled with anothed $2.43 billion in state spendiny cuts, the estimated $765 million from slot machinee revenue would help to close an estimated $3.
2 billionj funding gap in the upcoming two-yeaer state budget, Strickland said. He said the combination of the slotse revenue and spending cuts wouled help protect funding for education and safet net servicesfor children, the elderly and It also would mean not having to impose a tax increase to balance the fiscal 2010-2011 budget, the governor said. A joint House and Senate conference committee is trying to reach agreement on how to balancedthat two-year spending plan by a June 30 deadline. Stricklandr said he will ask the legislature to approvehis slot-machines proposal instead of putting it on the ballot and letting voters decide its fate.
The legislativs approach will provide a more timely solution to the fundiny shortfall than aballot initiative, he said.