Governor Limited 

Gov. Ted Strickland is in a tough spot. He is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't when it comes to slot machines. If he does not bring in the slot machines, he does not have another way of bringing in the revenue that his state so desperately needs to balance their budget. By not having enough revenue, he then has to cut important programs like education and infrastructure improvements because there just isn't money for it. 

If he brings in slot machines, he will have enough money to do what he wants to do. He will be able to find all of the programs that need funding, and according to the plan, will still have money left over to put towards other programs that haven't yet been introduced. But if he brings in slot machines, he risks the ire of his residents because they don't want slot the machines. 

The Ohio Supreme Court recently ruled against the governor by a 6 to 1 decision saying that the governor did not have the right to ban the slot machine plan from a voter referendum effort. The group that brought the suit against the state, LetOhioVote.org is excited by their victory. What they are trying to do is to stall the installation of the slot machines into after the election leaving Strickland limited in what his options are at this point. 

He does have the option of going directly to the voters with a slot machine proposal in May, but he is worried that it will not pass. However, recent polls have shown that Ohio residents don't really have a problem with the slot machines coming in. They seem to understand that they are a necessary evil within the state and that without them underfunded projects like education will get cut even more.

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