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Published:Sunday, October 5, 2008
Vote no on Issue 6
Once again, voters are being asked to place in the Ohio Constitution a guarantee of a casino license for a specific group of investors.
And once again the voters of Ohio should vote no, in this case on state Issue 6, which has come to be known as the My Ohio plan.
There are general and specific reasons behind our position.
Generally, this newspaper has opposed attempts to legalize gambling in the state. This region, more than most, has seen the scourge of illegal gambling and of public corruption. Legal gambling, with enormous amounts of money at stake, provides an atmosphere in which public corruption can too easily take root.
Also, we remain convinced that regardless of the additional tax revenue promised by casino operators, the social costs of gambling are, in the end, higher. Casino gambling is the biggest redistribution of wealth scheme ever invented; it takes from the poor and gives to the rich.
Muddying the constitution
Specifically, this proposal should be rejected because, as noted, speculators have put together a constitutional amendment that would give them — to the exclusion of anyone else — first bite at the legalized gambling apple. The casino could be built only on the land they control, land in central Ohio. Such a franchise has no place in a state’s bedrock legal document, its constitution.
There are those who say that no one would go to the expense of placing a constitutional amendment legalizing gambling on the ballot unless they are guaranteed to be the beneficiary. Why not? Aren’t they gambling men?
There are other reasons to be wary of this amendment, including, especially, a provision that if any other casino operation is ever licensed in Ohio, the tax paid by this casino would be linked to that paid by subsequent casinos. That sounds fair enough, except that if a native-American casino were built in Ohio, all bets would be off. Tying this casinos’s taxes to those of an Indian casino could drastically reduce those millions of dollars that Issue 6’s backers are promising to every Ohio county.
Issue 6 should be rejected by any voter who is truly concerned about the future of his or her Ohio.
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MyOhioNow/Issue Six Releases Casino Study and Indian Law Opinion Supporting State Issue Six
CLEVELAND, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- MyOhioNow/Issue 6 announced today that a recent study from Michigan Consultants (a national market analysis firm) found that a proposed Ohio casino would generate approximately $255 million in payments to Ohio counties, and would ultimately be responsible for adding over 8,700 jobs to the state.
The study commissioned by MyOhioNow noted that the casino would generate approximately $850 million in gaming revenue -- the large majority of which would be spending from residents of Ohio who gamble at out-of-state casinos. With a gaming tax of 30% on revenue, the casino would generate approximately $255 million in tax payments for the 88 Ohio counties. In addition, the casino would directly provide for nearly 6,800 new jobs at its site, and with an expected ripple effect from the casino's operation, would ultimately be responsible for over 8,700 new jobs in Ohio.
"This analysis confirms what we've been presenting to Ohio," said Rick Lertzman, co-founder of MyOhioNow. "Issue Six will bring in millions of dollars in tax revenue and thousands of new jobs to Ohio, while keeping money from traveling outside the state."
MyOhioNow/Issue 6 also announced that an opinion from Professor Blake Watson of the University of Dayton School of Law unequivocally stated that tribal gambling in Ohio is a non-issue for Issue Six. According to Professor Watson, "one can conclude with confidence that no Indian tribe will be able to establish a casino in Ohio. Consequently, Tribal gaming in Ohio is a non-issue for Issue Six."
"Professor Watson's opinion is consistent with what we have been saying all along," added Dr. Brad Pressman, the other co-founder of MyOhioNow. "No Indian casino will be built in Ohio. Any argument to the contrary is ignorant of Indian law."
Issue Six -- on the ballot for the November elections -- will give Ohio voters an opportunity to legalize a resort casino in the state of Ohio. Under the current development plan, construction of the planned casino would likely commence within 12-18 months after the referendum is approved, and the casino would open approximately 18 months after construction commences.
The economic report and legal opinion can be viewed at www.yesonissue6.com or at www.myohionow.com
For more info Rick Lertzman, Rick@MyOhioNow.com , 216 926 2661
SOURCE MyOhioNow.com
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Ripoff the citizens of Ohio is the only goal of the new casino. I will be voting NO. They could end up paying NO taxes. What a bunch of Turds from Minnesotta MyOhioNow has turned out to be once the truth be known.
Although opinions could well be swayed by the deluge of ads planned for the next four weeks, a proposed state constitutional amendment that would allow a casino near Wilmington is ahead by 9 points in a new Dispatch Poll.
But Koneval, 20, a student at Youngstown State University from nearby Hubbard, took the opposite stance.
"I feel that the lack of permission for casinos to be built in Ohio is ridiculous," she said. "We live in troubled financial times, and there is no reason why our state should be giving up desperately needed revenue as well as discarding the chance for greatly needed jobs."
But it's the casino battle royale that likely will see more spent on advertising than even the presidential race in battleground Ohio. The issue would authorize a single $600 million casino resort in Clinton County near I-71, roughly halfway between Columbus and Cincinnati.
Backers say the facility with "Midwestern sensibilities" would create 5,000 permanent jobs with an average wage of $34,000, and add 6,800 more in spinoff tourism jobs. The casino would generate $800 million a year in revenue, with $240 million to be split among Ohio counties based on population, supporters say.
A state analysis, however, warns that the tax revenue could dwindle to zero if any Indian casino overcomes current legal roadblocks to build in Ohio.
Many proponents say the time has come for economically ravaged Ohio -- especially the area near the proposed casino, which is experiencing thousands of lost jobs as automotive plants close and air-cargo contracts end -- to reap the casino cash that most surrounding states are getting.
"Ignoring any moral and ethical issues regarding gambling, I think this would be an economic boost for our state," said survey respondent Kim Fallon, a 34-year-old teacher from Akron.
"With job loss in Ohio at record levels, anything that would bring in substantial job opportunities and revenue for the state would be helpful. If Ohioans are willing to drive to surrounding states to gamble, why not offer that in our own state and support Ohio's economy instead of West Virginia's?"
Martin Stetz of Wickliffe, near Cleveland, echoes her sentiments.
"While I'm not a gambler myself, I think it makes sense to allow the people of Ohio to spend their money here in Ohio instead of New York or West Virginia," said the 51-year-old customer-service representative.
But Sue Raypole, 65, of Washington Court House expresses the concerns of many others.
"I do not support casinos being built in Ohio because of all the crime associated with gambling," said the retired manufacturing manager.
The poll of 2,262 likely Ohio voters was conducted Sept. 24 through Friday. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 2 percentage points.
drowland@dispatch.com
The more that comes out about the Casino Backers and paying NO taxes, pushing all their costs out of tax money, etc. like yesterday, the more Ohio voters need to vote NO. tell them to take their arses back to MN and let Ohio come up with their own casino plan to support the schools' funding specifically.
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