Gov. Signs Second Interim Budget As Stalemate Continues

COLUMBUS, Ohio —As the state loses $13.2 million a week without a new two-year budget, NBC 4 sought out Central Ohio lawmakers in the House and Senate to find out how hard they are working to come to a compromise.

We knocked on the doors of Senators Karen Gillmor, Jim Hughes and Ray Miller. Only Sen. Gillmor agreed to talk.

“What specifically are you working on, what’s the hold up?“ she was asked.

“Just this morning the Senate President sent a letter to the Governor saying that we agree on many things. However, one way we can settle the budget impasse is to put the video slot machines on the ballot,“ Gillmor explained.

But it is a compromise Gov. Ted Strickland says does nothing to generate the $1 billion needed to balance the budget. He cited a 2007 proposal by several Senate Republicans for a video gaming system at Ohio racetracks.

“The machines are identical, they both involve expanded gambling at seven race tracks,“ explained Strickland.

Across the street in the Riffe Center, state representatives are still working. We caught up with Rep. Carlton Weddington. He says the House Finance Committee is meeting daily.

“We are talking about the possible cuts that will occur if we don’t come to some sort of conclusion and some type of balanced budget,“ said Weddington.

Sen.Gillmor is optimistic a compromise could be reached by Friday. Representative Weddington does not share her enthusiasm.

The bottom line is that for every day spent negotiating or finger pointing, millions of dollars of your tax money go down the drain.

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