Ohio Considers Limiting Gambling Operators' Political Influence

Ohio legislators struggled to prevent temptation from knocking on their own door, as they looked to limit campaign contributions from race track owners and gambling operators.

Ohio politicians are going along with Governor Ted Strickland's executive order bringing slot machines to state tracks with great reluctance. Now lawmakers are looking to police each other, proposing that gaming interests be severely limited in their ability to make campaign contributions which may influence legislative voting, especially on placement of gaming machines.

The provision to address campaign donations by the end of the Assembly term is included in the expanded gambling package by insistence of Senate President Bill Harris, who has opposed gambling throughout the debate. But some legislators are saying the barn won't be locked until the horse is already spinning the slots.

"We know there will be a problem surrounding political contributions and the placement of these machines, but we're not going to address it until after all the machines are placed and sold," says Representative Jeff Wagner, upset that the attention the subject needs won't be devoted until after the slots are already in place.

Strickland has vowed to not accept donations from track owners, although that is not a complete disavowal of all gaming contributors. He also promised to sign any legislation attempting to limit gambling influence.

Ohio officials have also asked for funding to properly regulate the new gaming, but received only a tenth of the money requested. Whether this is entirely due to the budget crisis and a lack of revenue, or whether state lawmakers are intent on talking the talk while leaving doors open for shady dealing is uncertain.