On March 18th, 2008, state legislators who are members of the Republican Party are expected to stop the efforts of the Ohio Lottery Commission to start buying the equipment needed for Gov. Ted Strickland's planned gaming expansion which includes keno games. The Controlling Board is scheduled to review a request from the lottery commission for a no bid contract for GTECH Corporation to produce the equipment needed for keno worth $18 million.
Based on the data that GTECH provided, Governor Strickland expects the game to contribute around $73 million revenue annually to help with the $773 million budget deficit. But Republican legislators who own four seats at Controlling Board said that they will not support the gaming expansion, not before the Lottery Commission makes a public hearing and before a house committee gives its go signal to the rules needed to run the game.
Board member Rep. Larry Flowers from Canal, Winchester and a member of the Republican Party said that a public hearing is vital because residents have the right to say their side regarding the matter. Board member Rep. Jay Hottinger from Newark said that he will not be surprised if the Commission does not take back its request. Hottinger said that the Lottery Commission should first present their proposal to the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review.
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John Sullivan
