From the Ohio Roundtable:

In an act of direct defiance the Ohio Senate voted on May 23rd to overturn the results of the November 26th election and legalize video slot machines at Ohio’s racetracks.

The defeat of Ohio ballot issue #3 was the third time voters said no to casino gambling and slots in the State. In spite of this clear instruction of the electorate the Senate by a vote of 25-8 passed SB 125 from Committee and directly to a floor vote in a matter of hours. Here is the list of Senators who defied the results of the election and voted to legalize “instant racing machines” at the tracks.

John Boccieri (D), Capri Cafaro (D), Gary Cates (R), Patricia Clancy (R), Kevin Coughlin (R), Teresa Fedor (D), Randy Gardner (R), David Goodman (R), Timothy Grendell (R), Bill Harris (R), Eric Kearney (D), Lance T. Mason (D), Dale Miller (D), Ray Miller (D), Sue Morano (D), Larry A. Mumper (R), Tom Niehaus (R), Tom Roberts (D), Tom Sawyer (D), Robert Schuler (R), J. Kirk Schuring (R), Robert F. Spada (R), Steve Stivers (R), Jason H. Wilson (D)

Here are the eight Senators who kept their oath to uphold the Constitution by honoring the direct votes of the people and state law.

Ron Amstutz (R), Steve Austria (R), Steve Buehrer (R), John Carey (R), Keith Faber (R), Jeff Jacobson (R), Joy Padgett (R), Tim Schaffer (R)

I have mixed feelings about the Ohio Roundtable and gambling, but I think its clear that Ohio voters would not approve of this.

And it is hilarious that, since Neil Clark’s 2006 gambling-for-scholarships campaign didn’t work, the gambling interests now have to stoop to claiming that the slots would help pay for in-home care for seniors and “horse riding therapy programs that help sick or disabled children.� As the Buckeye Institute said, “If this one doesn’t work, perhaps slot backers can craft a proposal benefiting abandoned puppies.”