Article published June 05, 2003
OHIO BUDGET
Plan ties college aid to video gambling
Scholarships hinge on voter approval
By JAMES DREW
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF
COLUMBUS - Ohio high school students with at least B grades would be eligible for one-year scholarships if they go to in-state public or private universities, under a proposal being considered in the Ohio legislature.
But for the money to flow, voters would have to approve allowing up to 2,500 video gambling machines at each of Ohio's seven horse-racing tracks, including Toledo's Raceway Park. Such machines can be programmed to play simulated slots, poker, blackjack, keno, and bingo.
The proposal says students who pass their graduation exams and have at least a 3.0 grade point average would be eligible for one-year scholarships up to $5,000, under a bill that state Sen. Louis Blessing (R., Cincinnati) is sponsoring.
Supporters say it would help prevent "brain drain," the departure of Ohio students with good grades to out-of-state colleges and universities.
Critics say the proposal is a cynical ploy to build support for the expansion of gambling and echoes the perception that approval of the Ohio Lottery in 1973 would solve the state's public school-funding woes.
The Senate is expected to vote next week on a resolution to put the electronic slot machine issue on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Also on the fast track is Mr. Blessing's bill that would set aside the state's take of the gambling revenue for college scholarships and public school construction projects. The bill does not set precise amounts or percentages yet.
The scholarship funds could start flowing in 2004 or 2005, Mr. Blessing said.
The proposal, dubbed the "Ohio Scholars Program" and pushed by state Sen. Eric Fingerhut (D., Cleveland), is expected to attract enough Democratic votes in the GOP-controlled Senate to thwart anti-gambling conservatives.
Mr. Fingerhut's initial proposal would have provided scholarships of four years or more.
"The Ohio Scholars Program is a powerful incentive to stop the brain drain and stimulate our economy," Mr. Fingerhut said in a written statement on May 1.
But David Zanotti, president of the Ohio Roundtable, a group based in Solon, Ohio, said the proposal is "brain dead."
"It's perverse to tell parents that they would have a chance to send their children to college on this completely unreliable scheme. It is ridiculous," he said.
Mr. Zanotti said the Ohio Roundtable plans to release details next week about its campaign to urge voters to reject allowing video gambling machines at racetracks.
Calling legislators "pirates and scoundrels," Mr. Zanotti said: "They are attempting every way to pervert the [Ohio] Constitution and the Ohio Revised Code. Every word has to be watched with these people. "
Tying a college scholarship program to voter approval of video gambling machines may face a tough sell in the 99-member House.
State Rep. Lynn Olman (R., Maumee), a strong supporter of adding video gambling machines to horse-racing tracks, said he prefers the House plan.
Like the Senate, the House version of the two-year state operating budget calls for a two-year increase in the state sales tax rate from 5 percent to 6 percent.
But the House plan would allow voters to wipe out the tax increase by approving video gambling machines at the polls Nov. 4.
"This, to me, has never been an issue about gambling, as it is about balancing the budget," Mr. Olman said.
If the legislature puts the video gambling machine issue on the ballot as a constitutional amendment, Gov. Bob Taft can't veto it.
But the governor has vowed to help defeat it at the polls, saying he opposes "mini-casinos" at race tracks around the state.
The Ohio Constitution and state law allow charitable gambling such as bingo, horse racing, and the state lottery. In 1990 and 1996, voters rejected constitutional amendments to permit casino gambling.
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