On March 18th, 2008, the members of the legislative that are members of the Republican Party are expected to block the plans of the Lottery commission to buy the equipment for the planned keno expansion of Gov. Strickland. The state Controlling Board is scheduled to review a request from the Lottery Commission for a no bid contract worth $18 million for GTECH Corporation to give the material to operate keno.
Based on the statistics held by GTECH, Strickland expects the game of keno to produce $73 million in total revenue annually to help cut the $773 million budget deficit. But members of the Controlling Board from the Republican Party commented that they will not support the gaming expansion unless the Lottery Commission hold a public hearing.
Rep. Larry Flowers, a representative from Canal Winchester and a board member said that the Lottery Commission should accomplish that mission first before petitioning the Control Board to allow the Keno gaming expansion. A lot of legislators are skeptical about the whole issue because before this issue, Governor Ted Strickland is adamant about any form of gaming expansion in the state of Ohio.
[07-04]
John Sullivan
