ProgressOhio

In a recent statement, Senate President Bill Harris says the Republican-controlled Senate will vote down the proposal to place slot machines at the state's seven race tracks.

Strickland says the Senate must offer their alternative solution, specifying what new taxes they will levy or which programs they will cut to make up the billion dollars they will forfeit without slots:

"Senate Republicans refuse to support my balanced-budget framework that invests in our schools while avoiding a tax increase on Ohio families and businesses. We have heard the objections, but, unfortunately, still no solutions. I believe that the Senate majority understands the gravity of the situation before them. I continue to wait for them to say what taxes they would increase or what services they would further reduce to address the budget gap."

Strickland had proposed the slot machine plan as part of a plan to bring in an estimated $933 million annually to address a $3.2 billion budget shortfall.

“Senate Republicans refuse to support my balanced budget framework that invests in our schools while avoiding a tax increase on Ohio families and businesses,” Strickland said in a prepared statement. “We have heard the objections, but no solutions.”

Strickland’s slots proposal was intended to prevent more program cuts and help maintain Strickland’s investments in primary and secondary education, as well as protect a tuition freeze at Ohio's four-year public colleges and universities for an additional year.

House and Senate leaders have scheduled a conference committee meeting for tonight at 7.