The Observation Deck

About the Legislation

The language of the Legislation, and it being explained

I've seen the commercials from the "vote no on issue 6" campaign many times, and haven't heard much from the "vote yes on issue 6" campaign. I'm actually surprised that we haven't heard much of anything about the legislation as of today.

People for the bill point out that this will bring 5000 new jobs (with $34,000 salaries and full benefits + 2,000-3,000 construction jobs to build it) into the southern Ohio area, and that all 88 counties in the state will get to share 30% of the revenue. (is that a third of a cent for every dollar?)

People against the bill point out that there is a loophole in the legislation and that the tax rate that the casino pays could be reduced to 0%.

If this is such a good deal for the state of Ohio, wouldn't you think that they'd be pushing harder to pass it and getting more publicity for it so that people know what it's about? I didn't know what the issue was about until I looked it up myself. I have a feeling that if you ask the average voter if they know what Issue 6 is about, they wouldn't know either.

What do you all think about it?

30% of the revenue should be 30 cents on the dollar.

I don't really know the specifics of Issue 6, but I'm in favor of allowing gambling. The only reason not to be is if you believe the state should be able to legislate its own morality on the populace. That's why I hate blue laws too.

Every time one of these gambling issues comes up, they are in the form of an Ohio Constitutional Amendment that serves one, or very few venues.

I will vote no on every gambling issue presented that way. I don't really gamble, but I am not opposed to it.

If Ohioans want gambling, it should be decided, if possible, by the Ohio Legislature, or by passage of an overall constitutional amendment that defines legal gambling and regulates it in a rational and even-handed way.

The last time gambling was on the ballot, it was for a select few venues (More or less a monopoly.) that could not be punished for bad behavior. If you needed to somehow de-license or close one of them, it could only be by yet another constitutional amendment.

Vote for gambling if you want, but don't vote for an exclusive, self-serving, interest. These special interests spend a fortune on these issues. Could anybody raise enough money to pass a constitutional amendment to shut down a bad operator?

There's got to be a better way.

Steve

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Brad Hutchison wrote:30% of the revenue should be 30 cents on the dollar.

I don't really know the specifics of Issue 6, but I'm in favor of allowing gambling. The only reason not to be is if you believe the state should be able to legislate its own morality on the populace. That's why I hate blue laws too.

Are you sure it's 30 cents to a dollar? Think about this. 30% of revenue divided by 88 counties, or 30% for every county?

Is it 30 cents a county, the casino is actually losing money. If it's .003409 cents a county (.3/88)...then why pass it?

and where did the edit button go?
I meant .3/88, not .3 divided by 8 and a smiley face.

Ivor Karabatkovic wrote:and where did the edit button go?
I meant .3/88, not .3 divided by 8 and a smiley face.

yeah, where did the edit button go?

Stephen Eisel wrote:

Ivor Karabatkovic wrote:and where did the edit button go?
I meant .3/88, not .3 divided by 8 and a smiley face.

yeah, where did the edit button go?

Getting ready to switch over to the new Deck, so we needed a bit of stability for the next 30 days or so.

As we test the new discussion board, and move Dbases.


FWIW


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Ivor, if you wish to hear more discussion on this issue, you might want to tune into WTAM 1100, they've had both sides come on more than once to discuss the issue.

The other main reason that it hasn't been more front and center in Northern Ohio is that it is generally Southern Ohio that is opposed to legalising gambling in Ohio.

Unfortunately, Stephen Davis is completely right. There is a much better way to go about this. If the State of Ohio would simply approve the creation of a State Gaming Commission first, then we could open the door for competetive bidding and more advantageous agreements for licensing and taxation.

However, given the fact that our representatives will probably never go for the right legislation (it doesn't offer them as many kickbacks), we're left with having to vote for (or against) what's left.

Oh, and by the way, this is NOT a referendum on gambling. I can bet the ponies at Thistledown, play poker in the flats and Keno in many area bars.

This is a vote for CASINO gambling.

What it comes down to is this...

If you want it done right, you may be waiting for quite a while. Issue 6 may be imperfect, but at best we make a little money, gain a few jobs and get a few more tourists (mostly from Kentucky), and at worst, we're in the same place we were last year.

For what it's worth, I'll be voting yes.

I am not opposed to gambling and do it on occasion but because of the reasons Stehpen Davis cited, I wouldn't vote for it if it means the money goes into the wrong hands. Haven't we had enough of that in our lifetime?

Bret Callentine wrote:Unfortunately, Stephen Davis is completely right. There is a much better way to go about this. If the State of Ohio would simply approve the creation of a State Gaming Commission first, then we could open the door for competetive bidding and more advantageous agreements for licensing and taxation.

Okay.

Bret Callentine wrote:If you want it done right, you may be waiting for quite a while.

Uh-huh.

Bret Callentine wrote:For what it's worth, I'll be voting yes.

WHAT?!?!?


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perhaps I should clarify...

right now, our gambling money is already going into the hands of the wrong people, mostly out of state.

If the bill is passed, yes, there is a chance that it will continue to do so. But there is also a small chance that some of the money will stay in Ohio.

And if nothing else, it will create jobs in Ohio. It will give me a place - in state - to gamble.

And I think it will open the door for further gambling legislation.

I am not holding out much hope that it will provide some windfall of money for the state or county. However, if you vote no, we still get nothing, so what's the big down side?

Bret Callentine wrote:I am not holding out much hope that it will provide some windfall of money for the state or county. However, if you vote no, we still get nothing, so what's the big down side?

Brett,

I'm just glad you're not voting on whether we go to war, or not.

Steve

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Here in Des Moines we have Prairie Meadows, one of the best examples of a casino:

http://www.prairiemeadows.com/aboutus/

stephen,

this isn't rocket surgury, or a vote on war, it's a vote to decide whether thousands of people will continue to have to drive to Detroit or perhaps be offered a different destination.

No Bret, like the war it is just not that simple and is really about much more than that.