November 20 , 2009

Contact: Tim Burga
614.224.8271 | tburga@ohaflcio.com

OHIO AFL-CIO PROMISES TO LITIGATE ANY DIVERSION OF GAMING DOLLARS INTENDED FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION; STATE’S LARGEST LABOR ORGANIZATION SEES SENATE PLAN AS A VIOLATION OF VOTER INTENT

The Ohio AFL-CIO, an early and strong supporter of Issue 3, the successful casino gambling measure, has promised to litigate any attempt by the Ohio Senate Republicans to divert casino licensing fees away from what voters intended when they overwhelmingly passed the issue on November 3.

“The constitutional amendment passed by voters earmarks the $200 million in licensing fees for regional workforce and economic development. We simply will not tolerate the Ohio Senate or anyone else diverting money from job creation at a time when working families so clearly need all the help we can get. We are prepared to litigate this issue on behalf of our 700,000 members and all workers in our state,” said Ohio AFL-CIO President Joe Rugola.

Rugola said voters clearly saw job creation as an important component of Issue 3, leading to its wide margin of victory.

“Breaking a covenant with the voters is clearly unacceptable,” he said, particularly when viable solutions exist to filling the state budget shortfall.

“Governor Strickland and the House Democrats put forth a good plan in HB318. Delaying the fifth year of a tax cut generates the dollars needed to keep Ohio running and meeting the critical needs of its citizens. Senate Republicans should get with the program and pass HB318 in its current form.”

He added that, “the people of Ohio want action and they want a reasonable solution to the budget problem. They don’t want huge cuts in education and services, and they don’t want a bunch of excuses from lawmakers. The best solution is to pass HB318 and move onto other pressing business in the legislature.”

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