How much money are Issues 3 supporters spending in Ohio for the November ballot initiative?
* Backers say the sites would create about 20,000 jobs — that number includes construction work, casino employees and workers at businesses that sprout up around the locations — and result in $1 billion in new private investment. * Additionally, they say the projects would provide $200 million in licensing fees and $600 million in tax revenues for the state, counties, cities and school districts. * The proposal requires that at least $250 million be invested at each of the four casino sites. Operators would have to pay $50 million in licensing fees for each location. * A “permanent, guaranteed” tax of 33 percent would be charged on gross casino revenues. The proceeds would be split among counties and cities, school districts, racing and casino commissions and law enforcement.[6] The Fraternal Order of Police are supporters of the issue, stating that taxes collected from the casino will help raise salaries for police officers and will increase job positions in the force. The FOP and pol
Ballot initiatives, former Oregon Secretary of State Phil Keisling says, are “like 190-proof grain alcohol – a little goes a long way.” Next month’s ballot may prove his point. The offerings on the electoral menu packing perhaps the biggest potential punch are a plan to legalize casinos in Ohio – the fifth since 1990 – and a Cincinnati charter amendment to require public approval for proposed streetcar and passenger rail lines. The rhetoric over those issues has ignited a debate over whether ballot initiatives and referendums are emblematic of democracy at its finest – citizen power personified – or its worst, a hazardous move that hamstrings government and can trample minority rights. To those promoting the casino plan and city charter change, the ballot proposals are infused with the very DNA of democracy, mechanisms that empower voters as Election Day legislators with a decisive voice on some major issues of the day. Initiatives are launched by the public on issues in advance of gov
Issue 3 supporters are spending more than $50 million to campaign for the issue, which would “amend the Ohio Constitution to give Gilbert (Cleveland Cavaliers’ owner Dan Gilbert) and Penn National Gambling Inc. a monopoly on four casinos in the state that would have both table games and slot machines. The casinos would be located in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo.” And according to Schlichter, seven out of 100 Ohio residents would be adversely affected if casinos reside in their neighborhoods. Sources: http://www.examiner.
Related Questions
- Theres a big school choice initiative on the ballot this November in California; Bill Bennett is spending a lot of time out there stumping for it. Have you been contacted for advice?
- How much money are Issues 3 supporters spending in Ohio for the November ballot initiative?
- How many legal signatures are needed to get the initiative on the November 2010 ballot?
