The debate over whether or not voters are being “hoodwinked” into signing a slot machine proposal that will fund scholarships to high school students rages on in Ohio. Several groups have attacked the Learn and Earn Committee for their slot machine proposal, and are hoping to seriously hinder it in its quest to try and get enough signatures on the slot machine proposal to get on the November ballot.

Interestingly enough, both Jim Petro, Attorney General, and J. Kenneth Blackwell, Secretary of State, oppose slot machine and any gambling of any kind in their state. However, neither party has come forward to back the latest attempt – from two religious organizations within the state – to block the slot machine initiative. The Secretary of State’s office commented that they would cooperate with anything the Attorney General decided to do, but they will not be investigating on their own. The Attorney General’s Office issued a statement saying that they would assist the county boards of election and prosecutors if asked, but they also won’t be initiating anything having to do with the slot machine proposal.

Both offices are claiming that they don’t have the jurisdiction to investigate, although they are worried about the allegations. The problem is who can take care of this, as the Ohio Elections Commission doesn’t have jurisdiction either. The Learn and Earn Committee, the group that wants to bring in the slot machines, says they have approximately 2000 canvassers asking people to sign the slot machine initiative, and they have all been properly trained so they feel that if there are illegal or immoral choices being made by the canvassers, then they are acting on their own, and not necessarily as a representative of the group.

Back to August Archive or Slot Machines