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Ohio Gubernatorial Candidate Offers Gambling Solution

"It marked the first policy initiative offered by Hagan, who hopes the plan will add credibility to his underdog campaign and convince voters that he is a viable alternative to Republican Gov. Bob Taft.

"…Hagan estimates Ohio's budget deficit at $2.68 billion to $3.48 billion a year, depending on how much new spending is ordered by the Ohio Supreme Court in the school-funding lawsuit.

"Hagan's Plan for Ohio, which he intends to publicly announce today, lays out a 180-day budget-balancing plan that would begin one week after the Nov. 5 election and is likely to culminate in an unspecified tax increase being placed before voters next August.

"Each year, the plan would generate $500 million in new gambling proceeds, $500 million by closing business tax loopholes, $1 billion in cuts from state agencies and $450 million in cuts to Medicaid, including possible cuts in payments to nursing homes.

"Hagan's business tax proposals are likely to face stiff opposition in the General Assembly, which is expected to remain in Republican hands and has rejected similar proposals by Taft.

"…Racetracks have been clamoring to add the slot machines, saying that Ohio gamblers have been exporting their money to neighboring states with casinos…"

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