Governor Taft Battles Slot Machines 

Governor Bob Taft has finally decided to step up to plate. The governor has decided to come out against the slot machine initiative that is currently trying to get on the November ballot. The Ohio Learn and Earn campaign is trying to get up to 3,500 slot machines at each of seven racetracks, as well as two downtown Cleveland sites.  

Governor Taft said, “I just think I have a responsibility to speak out now…The social costs, once I started investigating them, just absolutely astounded me, the fact that we're going to have so many more problem and pathological gamblers."  

Supporters of the slot machine initiative called Governor Taft “the biggest bookie in the state” for his 2001 campaign to get Ohio to join the MegaMillions multistate lottery. They said that because of this push, tuition costs have escalated to where most students cannot afford to attend college – and that because of this they have tried to get the slot machines on the ballot to get the scholarships needed to send kids to school now. The governor and first lady have launched an anti-casino road tour to try and educate people about the dangers of slot machines and gambling.

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