Voinovich right on gambling

And I do believe he would raise taxes rather than agree to more gambling. Even though, that is not the right answer either. Just cut spending! It's amazing how afraid our governors are of a mob of middle aged librarians when it comes to budget cuts.

Voinovich speaks out against gambling plans

Sunday, September 6, 2009 7:20 AM

Sen. George V. Voinovich, R-Ohio, ripped both proposals to expand gambling in Ohio last week as an "attack on families." Voinovich made his comments as the Ohio Roundtable, a conservative policy group, announced a lawsuit to block Gov. Ted Strickland's plans for video slot machines at horse tracks.

Voinovich said at the event that the slots plan and a November ballot issue to permit full-blown casinos in Ohio's four largest cities would suck money out of the pockets of vulnerable people.

Voinovich said the fourcasino plan is the handiwork of "greedy vultures" from other states. The Republican former governor was not as harsh toward Strickland, a Democrat, but sounded personally betrayed as he recalled how Strickland stood with Voinovich and other gambling opponents against a slotmachine proposal in 2006.

"Based on his past comments, he knows that this is not in the best interest of Ohio's families," Voinovich said.
Strickland says that the state needs the $933 million in expected revenue from the video lottery terminals at the racetracks to head off massive cuts to education and social services.

Voinovich recalled that he faced similar budget problems, albeit less severe, when he took office in 1991. He noted that he cut the state budget four times and raised taxes, and would do so again in Strickland's position.

"I would have raised taxes," he said.