Group called TruthPAC plans to challenge claims of casino amendment supporters
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Cleveland.com: A new group has been formed to "counter the exaggerated claims" of supporters of a proposed casino amendment. TruthPAC, which bills itself as a bipartisan coalition, said it will challenge claims that a constitutional amendment allowing four casinos in Ohio would create more than 30,000 jobs and billions of dollars in positive economic impact the first five years the casinos are open.
TruthPAC director Scott Kozar charged in a statement Thursday that the Ohio Jobs and Growth Committee, the group backing the casino plan, is "intentionally inflating the projected economic impact" of the plan. But Charlie Luken, the casino committee's chairman, said TruthPAC isn't opposed to gambling but is trying to kill the casino deal to help reduce competition for horse racing tracks' slot machine operations. Gov. Ted Strickland, with the help of Statehouse Democrats, last month signed a budget bill that authorized up to 17,500 slot machines for the state's seven horse racing tracks. Strickland is counting on licensing fees and strong betting revenue over the next two years for Ohio's operating budget to remain balanced. "I don't think the TruthPAC is telling the truth," Luken said in an interview. "You have people trying to protect their guaranteed slots . . . and it is has nothing to do with what is good for Ohio. And what is good for Ohio is jobs." It is unclear who is bankrolling this anti-casino effort. TruthPAC spokeswoman Sandy Theis said, "We expect money to come from a lot of different places from people opposed to this amendment, but I don't know where the initial money came from."
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